Mamdani admin will skip oversight hearing on bungled pied--terre tax rollout

Mayor Zohran Mamdani won’t be sending anyone to an oversight hearing about his administration’s bungled rollout of the state’s new pied-à-terre tax.Administration officials will skip testifying Tuesday at the City Council’s hearing — shielding them from publicly facing tough questions about their implementation of the controversial new levy on luxury second homes.Mamdani spokesman Matthew Rauschenbach blamed a high-profile lawsuit for the all-too-convenient planned no-show.“Given the ongoing litigation, our administration has decided to submit written testimony to the City Council tomorrow for its hearing on the pied-à-terre surcharge,” said Rauschenbach.But past mayoral administrations have testified in oversight hearings despite facing active lawsuits, City Council Speaker Julie Menin noted.“Oversight is an essential function of government, and past mayoral administrations have shown up to answer questions despite ongoing litigation,” she said in a statement.“This is an unfortunate decision by the Administration but the hearing will go forward so we can hear from the public.”Democratic council members otherwise allied with Mamdani likewise blasted the dodge.“The pied-a-terre tax is an important ingredient in funding critical city services, but its rollout was clearly flawed,” Bronx Councilman Eric Dinowitz posted on X.“By refusing to show up, the administration is turning its back on the transparency and accountability our city was promised.”Fellow Bronx Democrat Kevin Riley said: “Disappointed to learn the Administration will not testify at tomorrow’s City Council hearing on the pied-à-terre tax rollout.“Written testimony cannot replace direct engagement, transparency, and the Council’s ability to ask important questions on behalf of New Yorkers,” the councilman wrote on X.The oversight hearing will unfold as the pied-à-terre tax gets off to a rocky start, with Republican City Council members planning to hold a rally b...