Tax-Dodging Billionaires Promise to Leave NYC If Mamdani Wins | Common Dreams
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NYC billionaires threaten to leave if progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani wins mayoral primary. But is their fear of losing wealth justified, or just a desperate attempt to maintain power and privilege?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/41814981

NYC billionaires threaten to leave if progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani wins mayoral primary. But is their fear of losing wealth justified, or just a desperate attempt to maintain power and privilege?

  • prole [any, any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    14·
    8 days ago

    Got curious and did some research on what kinds of unilateral powers the mayor of NY has. I actually think this guy could do a shit load of good things if he really wants to. The budget is massive, like 100 billion. They directly control the heads of police, fire, health, etc. There are dozens of positions like this where they can freely appoint/remove people.

    The city council can override vetoes, but it doesn’t seem like they have an easy path to block the mayor from doing what they want if it’s already within the scope of their power. Even the other elected officials who can reject budget plans and stuff (I forget the name, they have a lot of weird positions, comptroller maybe?) can just be ignored by the mayor. This happened not that long ago when Adams went forward with a contract with DocGo even though it got rejected. https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/mismanagement-of-docgo-contract-by-adams-admin-wasted-millions-of-dollars-on-unused-hotels-unauthorized-subcontractors-moldy-rooms-for-asylum-seekers-new-audit-from-comptroller-lander-finds/

    However, I’m sure a concerted effort by local officials could really bog things down for the mayor if they wanted. The real problem will be the state government, they can step in at any point and stop whatever they want via legislation. Idk how conservative the NY state government is, but my guess is they’ll be the main enemy of Zohran if he wins.

    • sewer_rat_420 [he/him, any]@hexbear.netEnglish
      7·
      8 days ago

      The current gov would certainly be a pain in his ass. For example, she has been an opponent of the NYC congestion pricing (an extra toll for cars entering lower Manhattan) and also an advocate for a mask ban.

      The funny thing was she was trying to put hurdles on congestion pricing, then Trump said something against the congestion pricing and tweeted an AI picture of himself as king and she said “Trump isn’t our king” despite being more aligned on this issue than not (and I am guessing aligned on other issues)

      However, if Zohran wins I don’t think it would be politically prudent to stand against some of his popular policies.