Liberal podcaster and NYU professor Scott Galloway has criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration for publishing a searchable database of affluent property owners, calling the move a form of doxing that could expose individuals to harassment. The database identifies owners whose non-primary residences may be subject to the city's proposed pied-à-terre tax.
Galloway, on the "Pivot" podcast with co-host Kara Swisher, stated that the database, released by the city's Department of Finance, essentially functions as a "wanted poster" for property owners. He defined doxing as "publishing private identifying information to expose someone to public pressure or harm without their consent." Galloway expressed concern that the list turns a legitimate tax revenue source into a tool for public pressure, particularly given recent events involving the execution of a healthcare CEO.
"He’s taken a legitimate source of tax revenue, and he’s turning it into a wanted poster," Galloway said of Mamdani’s tax list. He questioned the purpose of the list beyond identifying individuals, suggesting it implies they have done something wrong. Galloway also stated that Mamdani's broader rhetoric, including comments about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, plays into negative stereotypes about progressives and vindicates conservative fears.
"He’s not only playing into the worst fears about him, but he’s making it harder for all progressives," Galloway argued. "I believe in a progressive tax structure. I believe we should raise tax rates. The Republicans, in order to create deficits and continue to transfer money from the poor to the rich, they argue that progressive tax structures are persecution. This plays exactly into that entire narrative."
New York City's Department of Finance stated that the publication of the property roll is required by state law. A spokesperson for the department indicated that the list includes all properties subject to NYC property taxes, not exclusively those liable for the pied-à-terre tax. The mayor's office clarified that such property tax rolls have been published by the city for decades, in accordance with state law, and that the current list is a general property tax roll used to identify potential candidates for the surcharge, not a specific pied-à-terre list.
"The roll is not a pied-a-terre list," a city official stated. "It is a state mandated roll that has to be generated to be used as a pool/universe that DOF will examine to identify which properties are subject to a surcharge. This is separate from the 17,000 individuals who received the ‘you may be subject to...’ letter letting them know that they may be potentially subject to the second home surcharge."
James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, voiced opposition to the tax, citing concerns about the complexity of its implementation and accuracy of notices sent to owners. He noted that the flawed implementation raises questions about the city's readiness.
According to the city, state law requires the publication of property tax rolls, a practice that has been ongoing for many years. The information is publicly available, similar to tax rolls published in other localities across New York State. Galloway, however, maintained that the list implies wrongdoing and warned that demonizing success runs counter to the appeal of New York City.