New York City\u2019s most powerful business lobby booted its leader after she made fawning remarks about far-left socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to a report.<\/p>\n
Kathy Wylde, the former head of the Partnership for New York City, lost the support of the high-powered CEOs who make up the organization\u2019s board after she made conciliatory remarks about Mamdani following his shock victory in the Democratic primary last year, according to New York magazine.<\/a><\/p>\n As Wylde sought to make nice with Mamdani, business titans including Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Tishman Speyer boss Rob Speyer concluded they wanted \u201ca different kind of leader\u201d because her \u201ccan\u2019t-we-all-just-get-along approach was no longer tenable,\u201d New York reported.<\/p>\n New York City\u2019s most powerful business lobby booted its leader after she made fawning remarks about far-left socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n A key inflection point was a CNBC interview that Wylde granted last summer, just after Mamdani\u2019s upset victory in the primary, during which she lavished praise on the former assemblyman.<\/p>\n When asked about Mamdani\u2019s private meeting with Partnership members, Wylde told CNBC: \u201cI think everyone walked away thinking that he was the most impressive candidate they have seen in generations.\u201d<\/p>\n Wylde went on to compliment Mamdani, telling CNBC: \u201cHe\u2019s very compelling, charming, smart young man and gives you a sense of he\u2019s honest, means what he says so. And he\u2019s full of hope.\u201d<\/p>\n One source familiar with the matter told New York magazine that Wylde\u2019s effusive praise for Mamdani on CNBC was a \u201choly s\u2014t\u201d moment for CEOs in the Partnership.<\/p>\n Kathy Wylde was pushed out from her position as head of the Partnership for New York City late last year. CNBC<\/p>\n \u201cShe just really stepped on it with the Zohran thing,\u201d the source told the publication.<\/p>\n \u201cThat whole CNBC interview was a \u2018holy s\u2013t\u2019 moment. People were so keyed up. There was no hedge, just her always trying to reach out to Zohran and his team. People started wondering, What are the principles of this organization? Do we fight for what we believe in, or are we just supposed to make friends at all costs?\u201d<\/p>\n Wylde announced she would step down as president and CEO of the Partnership in May, ending a 25-year run leading the powerful CEO group.<\/p>\n At the time, Wylde, then 79, signaled her intent to retire amid expectations that Andrew Cuomo would reclaim City Hall, privately telling associates she had no desire to endure another term navigating Cuomo-era politics.<\/p>\n After Mamdani won the Democratic primary and later the general election, the Partnership\u2019s board rejected Wylde\u2019s request to remain beyond the end of the year and instead selected Steve Fulop as her successor.<\/p>\n Fulop, a former Jersey City mayor coming off a failed bid for New Jersey governor, took over on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n He assumed the helm of Partnership despite lacking deep ties to New York\u2019s business or political establishment.<\/p>\n A coalition of business leaders including Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla are reportedly eager to assume a more confrontational footing against City Hall. REUTERS<\/p>\n His appointment marked a sharp break from Wylde\u2019s consensus-driven style, with Fulop quickly signaling a more aggressive posture by publicly blasting Mamdani\u2019s proposed corporate tax hikes as \u201csuicide for New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n Business leaders have been alarmed by Mamdani\u2019s economic platform, which centers on sweeping tax hikes to close a projected $12 billion budget deficit.<\/a><\/p>\n