Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to increase property taxes by nearly 10% might risk losing the backing of his own supporters, according to a poll shared with The Post. The survey, conducted by J.L. Partners, involved ten in-depth interviews with individuals who voted for Mamdani. The findings revealed that increasing taxes on the affluent and large corporations is the key policy that voters expect Mamdani to implement. Failing to do so could lead them to withdraw their support.
James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, remarked, “Property tax is a significant concern for Mamdani, both with his core supporters and other groups. During the campaign, Mamdani voters understood that property taxes inevitably impact renters.”
The poll highlighted that Mamdani’s commitment to “tax the rich” was more crucial to his supporters than his agenda filled with free services. Should he not fulfill this promise, some voters fear it might indicate undue influence from special interest groups.
Although policies like free bus services are popular among voters, respondents indicated that these were not decisive factors for their ongoing support. The emphasis was clearly on the taxation promise.
Participants in the poll suggested that there might be a possibility for Mamdani to make concessions by proposing a smaller tax increase on the wealthy. Nonetheless, they emphasized that any obstacles preventing the implementation of his key policy would not be acceptable excuses for the Democratic socialist mayor.
Poll respondents said that while there could be room for Mamdani to compromise with a lower tax hike on the wealthy, barriers to delivering at all on the policy would not be “good enough excuses” for the Democratic socialist mayor.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has repeatedly shot down Mamdani’s calls to raise state income taxes on the wealthy.
City Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
