Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reinforced his stance that affluent individuals like Jeff Bezos should contribute more in taxes. However, he acknowledged that Ken Griffin has been unresponsive to his outreach following a recent political gesture by the mayor.
Appearing on CNN Tuesday evening, Mamdani addressed the Amazon CEO’s criticism of increased taxes, which Bezos argued would not benefit educators in Queens.
“I know several teachers in Queens who would disagree,” the mayor, known for his socialist views, told Kaitlin Collins.
“If I possessed the same wealth as him, perhaps I’d share his sentiment. The reality is, in a city where a quarter of residents live in poverty, it’s disheartening to hear from one of the world’s wealthiest individuals about how those like him should not be required to pay their fair share,” Mamdani asserted.
Earlier in the conversation, Mamdani refrained from elaborating on his criticism of Griffin, CEO of Citadel, who had previously disapproved of the mayor’s “Tax the Rich” campaign staged near his Manhattan residence.
“We have attempted to contact Griffin to convey my readiness to engage with any business leaders throughout the city,” Mamdani stated.
“And I think that’s important because, as the mayor of this city, I’m looking to ensure that I meet with anyone who is a part of this city’s not just economy, but our future.”
When he was pressed for a more direct response, Mamdani reluctantly admitted his office hasn’t heard back from Griffin’s team “as of yet.”
