Taxing “Whiter Neighbourhoods”? The Flawed Logic of Mamdani’s NYC Proposal, By Chris Knight (Florida)

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral candidate for New York City, has ignited a firestorm with his proposal to "shift the tax burden" to "richer and whiter neighbourhoods," as outlined in a June 27, 2025, Newsweek article. His campaign's housing policy memo, titled "Supporting Homeowners and Ending Deed Theft," argues that the city's property tax system unfairly burdens outer-borough homeowners in areas like Jamaica and Brownsville, while wealthier, predominantly white neighbourhoods pay less than their fair share. The proposal, which explicitly references race, has been branded as "pure racism" by critics, raising questions about fairness, legality, and the state's role in addressing economic inequity.

Mamdani's policy memo, posted on his campaign website, pledges to "shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighbourhoods." He argues that New York City's property tax system is "unbalanced" due to artificially capped assessment levels, which allow homeowners in wealthier areas, described as "richer and whiter" to pay disproportionately less. By adjusting assessment percentages and raising rates, Mamdani aims to lower taxes for working-class neighbourhoods like Jamaica, Brownsville, and Tremont, while increasing them for "expensive Brooklyn brownstones." The plan is part of a broader socialist platform, including a $30 minimum wage, free childcare, and city-owned grocery stores, funded partly by a 2% tax on incomes over $1 million.

Mamdani defended the proposal on Meet the Press on June 29, 2025, insisting it's "not driven by race" but by economic fairness, targeting under-taxed wealthy areas. Yet, his campaign's explicit use of "whiter neighbourhoods" has drawn fierce backlash, with critics arguing it introduces racial bias into tax policy.

The proposal has sparked outrage, particularly among conservative commentators and some Democrats. The New York Post called it "pure racism," arguing it seeks to "punish" white residents based on identity politics. On X, Eric Daugherty labelled Mamdani a "radical Muslim socialist" and "racist," urging support for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA questioned allowing immigrants like Mamdani, a Ugandan-born naturalised citizen, to propose policies that "take from the native population based on race." Democratic commentator Brianna Wu sarcastically noted, "Love that this man is going to represent Democrats nationally," predicting political fallout.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon suggested the plan could violate federal anti-discrimination laws, potentially triggering a DOJ investigation. Writer Crémieux Recueil criticised its "ugly motivation," arguing that racial disparities in tax outcomes don't justify race-based policies.

Mamdani's proposal ties into the broader paradox of the modern paternal state, as seen in policies like the UK's Emergency Alert System and weapon bans in Australia and the UK. These governments demand preparedness for crises, whether war or economic inequity, while disempowering citizens through restrictive laws or, in this case, divisive tax policies. Mamdani's plan, while aiming to address economic disparities, introduces a racial lens that undermines individual agency and fairness, key tenets of classical liberalism.

Economic Intent vs. Racial Framing: Mamdani's goal of rebalancing property taxes to favour lower-income areas like Brownsville is defensible, as The New York Times notes that these neighbourhoods, often Black and Latino, face higher effective tax rates. However, framing the policy as targeting "whiter neighborhoods" alienates residents and invites legal scrutiny. GOP Councilman David Carr urged Mamdani to "drop the divisive rhetoric," emphasising fairness over race.

Legal and Practical Risks: The Washington Examiner notes that race-based tax policies could violate federal constitutional norms, risking legal challenges. Moreover, Forbes highlights that Mamdani's broader tax plans, including a millionaire tax, require state approval, which Governor Kathy Hochul has rejected to prevent wealthy residents from fleeing to low-tax states like Florida. Billionaire Bill Ackman warned that Mamdani's policies could make NYC "economically unviable," driving out the tax base needed for his ambitious programs.

Erosion of Liberal Principles: Classical liberalism, rooted in Locke and Mill, values equal treatment and individual merit. Mamdani's race-based rhetoric violates this by implying collective guilt based on neighbourhood demographics, echoing the speech crime prosecutions in Germany that punish dissent over migration. Such policies reflect a state more focused on controlling narratives than solving problems, fostering division rather than unity.

The paternal state's tendency to centralise power, whether through tax policies, weapon bans, or war alerts, creates a passive populace ill-equipped for challenges. Mamdani's proposal, while addressing real inequities, risks alienating wealthier residents who fund city services, as Ackman warned. This mirrors the UK's paradox of disarming citizens while warning of war, leaving them dependent on a state that may falter. In NYC, a tax exodus could cripple Mamdani's $10 billion agenda, leaving working-class communities without promised relief. X users fear this outcome, with one stating, "Tax the rich out of NYC, and there's no money for free buses or childcare. Mamdani's math doesn't add up."

Mamdani's plan to tax "whiter neighbourhoods" may aim to correct property tax inequities, but its racial framing is a reckless misstep. It invites accusations of racism, risks legal challenges, and undermines the liberal ideal of equal treatment. Like the paternal state's contradictory policies, disarming citizens while warning of war or silencing dissent while ignoring disorder, Mamdani's proposal fosters division and dependency rather than solutions. But that is just what socialists do and they can't help it any more than dogs scratching themselves.

https://www.newsweek.com/zohran-mamdani-proposes-taxing-whiter-neighborhoods-nyc-2091452

Zohran Mamdani Proposes Taxing 'Whiter Neighborhoods' in NYC

James Bickerton, Newsweek, June 27, 2025

New York City's Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has said he wants to "shift the tax burden" to "richer and whiter neighborhoods" if he secures election in November.

A housing policy document on Mamdani's official website includes a pledge to "shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods."

Mamdani's official campaign website features a policy memo under the title "Supporting homeowners and ending deed theft."

The document says that if elected his administration will "Shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods."

It adds: "The property tax system is unbalanced because assessment levels are artificially capped, so homeowners in expensive neighborhoods pay less than their fair share. The Mayor can fix this by pushing class assessment percentages down for everyone and adjusting rates up, effectively lowering tax payments for homeowners in neighborhoods like Jamaica and Brownsville while raising the amount paid in the most expensive Brooklyn brownstones."

The document asserts that currently New York City taxes "family homes in Black and Latino neighborhoods like Jamaica, Brownsville, and Tremont more than it does in wealthier neighborhoods of the city."