NOT BACKING DOWN: Muslim Socialist Zohran Mamdani Doubles Down On Plan To Target ‘Whiter Neighborhoods’ With Higher Taxes

Socialist New York City mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed on Sunday his intention to raise property taxes in what he described as “richer and whiter neighborhoods,” maintaining that billionaires should not exist in society.

Mamdani, labeled by one wealthy opponent as “the Fidel Castro of New York,” defended his tax-the-wealthy platform as not racially motivated—even as it focuses on white homeowners in particular areas.

“That is just a description of what we see right now. It’s not driven by race. It’s more of an assessment of what neighborhoods are being under-taxed versus over-taxed,” Mamdani told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

He further claimed that the city’s property tax framework is unfair, noting that even current Mayor Eric Adams had pledged to reform it early in his term.

“We’ve seen time and again that this is a property tax system that is inequitable. It’s one that actually Eric Adams ran on, saying that he would change in the first 100 days,” the pol said.

When asked whether emphasizing race could turn off some voters, Mamdani dismissed the concern and insisted that he’s simply stating facts as they are.

The candidate criticized New York’s dwindling tax base but blamed the city’s steep cost of living for driving people out. He highlighted his plan to boost taxes on the top 1% as part of the solution.

“We are talking about our tax base growing smaller and smaller each day, with New Yorkers leaving to New Jersey, to Pennsylvania, to Connecticut,” Mamdani said. “If we do not meet this moment, we will lose the city.”

Although he acknowledged that implementing his tax policies would require cooperation from Albany, Mamdani argued that his goal is to shift the conversation and change what people view as politically achievable.

He didn’t hold back on his views of extreme wealth either.

“I don’t think that we should have billionaires, frankly,” he said.

New York City currently hosts more billionaires than any other city in the world, with a count of 123.

Asked specifically about billionaire supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis—who warned he might shutter his stores if Mamdani wins—Mamdani was unbothered.

“In order to run New York City suddenly as mayor, do you not need the support of a billionaire businessman like John Catsimatidis?” host Kristen Welker asked.

Mamdani replied, “I don’t know if I need his support specifically.

“But I want to make clear that my vision for this city is a vision for every single New Yorker, including business leaders across the city,” he said.

Mamdani added that raising the city’s corporate tax rate to align with New Jersey’s could actually help business owners, not hurt them.

“And the reason I say that is that my proposals, even the ones to increase the top corporate tax rate of New York to match that of New Jersey, are ones that would also benefit those business leaders. Because when I have conversations with them, what I also hear is just how expensive this city is, which is preventing them from attracting and retaining the talent they need to grow their business.”

Catsimatidis, who also owns WABC radio, was blunt in his reaction to Mamdani’s anti-billionaire rhetoric.

“Zohran is trying to be the Fidel Castro of New York,” Catsimatidis told The Post.

He shared that during a 1990 visit to Cuba, he saw firsthand the devastation of that country.

“If Zohran is elected mayor, he’ll make New York City the next Detroit,” Catsimatidis added.

In the same interview, Mamdani again refused to condemn the controversial slogan “globalize the intifada,” a phrase widely seen as encouraging violence against Jews. Welker pressed him repeatedly, but he declined to disavow it.

“That’s not language that I use. The language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead this city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights,” he said.

“I don’t believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech in the manner.”

But House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents areas of Brooklyn, said on ABC’s “This Week” that the phrase is unacceptable.

“‘Globalizing the intifada’ by way of example is not an acceptable phrasing. He’s gonna have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward,” Jeffries said of Mamdani.

Despite the criticism, Mamdani said he’s confident of his chances in the general election this November.

He faces a crowded field, including independent incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, former Governor Andrew Cuomo—who Mamdani bested in the Democratic primary and who may still run independently—and independent candidate Jim Walden.

“Ultimately, it’s a referendum and how [Adams] made this city so unaffordable,” Mamdani said of the race. “For too long, politicians have pretended to simply be bystanders to a cost of living crisis. They’ve actually exacerbated it. And our vision is one that will respond to it and make this a city affordable for every New Yorker.”

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