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Texas Governor Greg Abbott is rolling out the welcome mat for businesses from New York City, following criticism from the city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, directed at billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin. Mamdani’s comments have sparked renewed interest in the business-friendly environment of the Lone Star State.
“Governor Abbott is eager to welcome businesses and job creators from all over the nation to Texas,” stated his spokesperson, Andrew Mahaleris, in a conversation with The Post. “Our state offers no income tax, reasonable regulations, and a pro-growth environment that allows free enterprise to thrive.”
Mahaleris further noted that policies targeting successful entrepreneurs tend to hasten the migration of companies to Texas, highlighting the state’s attraction for job creators.
Texas has already overtaken New York in financial sector employment, boasting 519,000 workers compared to New York’s 507,000, according to figures from the nonprofit Partnership for New York City.
Even giants like JPMorgan Chase now employ more people in Texas than in New York, as the Big Apple faces the possibility of losing its status as the global financial hub.
While welcoming New York CEOs and jobs, Abbott bused more than 100,000 migrants to the Big Apple and other sanctuary cities in the lefty state during the worst of the country’s border crisis. He complained Texas border towns were overwhelmed and that sanctuary cities run by Democrats were failing to help address the problem.
The loss of Wall Street business could deal a major blow to New York City’s finances, which are buoyed by taxes on bonuses from the sector.
Democratic socialist Mamdani triggered a backlash from Wall Street and business advocates when he used Griffin’s swanky $238 million Midtown penthouse as a backdrop in one of his trademark slick social-media videos to promote a new pied-a-terre tax — a stunt that the hedge-fund titan called “creepy.”
In a one-two punch, Griffin as well as Apollo Global Management honcho Marc Rowan threatened to expand outside New York City — while a silent wave of businesses have been “quiet quitting” the city over its hostile environment, insiders told The Post last week.
A White House adviser said Mamdani’s anti-corporate, anti-rich CEO rhetoric is a gift that could help Republicans retain the White House in 2028 after President Trump leaves office.
“Don’t interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake,” the White House insider told The Post.
“People in New York are looking at real estate in Dallas and Miami,” said the GOP source with ties to New York.
Democratic ex-Gov. David Paterson, meanwhile, ripped Mamdani for demonizing wealthy job creators and said he wants to help the business community fight back and not cower to Mamdani by skedaddling.
“[Mamdani] comes from a household of poor judgement,” Paterson told The Post on Sunday.
“I made a list of people I know — 13 of them were Democrats and six were Republicans — who would sit down and just have a conversation about where this city is going and not to let it get destroyed by the leadership and also not to let it falter, because the resources that have kept the city alive are thinking about moving to other places,” Paterson added to WABC radio’s the “Cats Roundtable.”
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Paterson said New York is a rough place and that business and civic leaders must toughen up and form a united front to defend the tax generators and job producers.
“This is a great city,” Paterson told host John Catsimatidis. “We’ve been through some really difficult times in this city. I think this is the time when leadership stands up and shows how well they can lead.
“I certainly understand how Ken Griffin feels … Mamdani taking pictures and basically humiliating himself right in front of Mr. Griffin‘s home.”
Paterson said Mamdani and many of his Democratic socialist supporters despise wealthy and successful people.
“They’re jealous and envious of what [other people] have. That is a terrible way to live your life,” he said.
“It’s a reflection of the lack of appreciation for what this city is about and what people had to do to make it that way. … Making comments that no one should ever be a billionaire — all that does is foment anger, and the people who it’s directed at now are threatening to protect themselves by leaving. I’m hoping they won’t do that.”
Mamdani’s office did not respond to a Post request for comment.
