Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has pledged to repeal New York’s new pied-à-terre tax if elected governor, calling it an “oppressive” and “reckless” policy that will drive residents and investment out of the state. The tax, which targets expensive second homes in New York City, is facing a chaotic rollout, prompting the city to hire 24 new employees to manage its implementation.
Blakeman, currently the Nassau County executive, stated Thursday that the tax would disproportionately affect middle-class New Yorkers and contribute to the city's existing high tax burden, which he noted is the third highest in the nation. "I will move to eliminate it on day one when I am elected governor," Blakeman said.
He criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for pushing the tax through the state legislature, suggesting it was a move to appease progressive goals without raising income or corporate taxes. Blakeman also condemned the Department of Finance for publishing a list of unoccupied non-primary residences valued over $1 million, including owners' names and addresses. "Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani’s new tax publicly targets homeowners, puts them at risk of crime, assumes they’re guilty, and forces them to prove they don’t owe the government more money," Blakeman stated.
The rollout has been marred by confusion, with some New York residents reportedly receiving tax notices in error. Zohran Mamdani, who is handling the tax's implementation, acknowledged the need for additional staff to address resident inquiries. He announced that the Department of Finance and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings would hire 24 new staffers. "The focus of their hiring is to engage with New Yorkers who have questions about this process," Mamdani said. He added that the timing was intended to give residents sufficient time to interact with city government before the tax is levied.
While the exact cost of the new hires to taxpayers has not been disclosed, the city’s job site lists 25 open positions within the Department of Finance, many posted recently. Although not explicitly for the pied-à-terre tax, the roles appear related to collections, real estate law, or tax exemptions, with salaries ranging from $67,000 to $110,000.
City Hall reported that 17,000 notices have been sent to owners of high-value properties, some of whom claim they received them mistakenly. Mamdani downplayed the issue, noting that owners have until August 21st to file appeals if they believe they were wrongly taxed. "I understand the concerns that some New Yorkers have that they are facing, and I know that a new tax typically brings more questions than it does answers," he said. "Right now, we are working around the clock across multiple city agencies to ensure that we are engaging with New Yorkers about how we are going to be delivering a tax on secondary homes worth more than $5 million."