QUEENS, New York (WABC) — Residents in Queens were both angry and disappointed Thursday night in reaction to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to increase property taxes.<\/p>\n
They say he promised affordable housing for his entire campaign and has now made an about face.<\/p>\n
“I don’t plan to move. It’s my home. I’m not leaving,” said homeowner Vivian Campbell.<\/p>\n
This two-story single-family home in Cambria Heights is Campbell’s American dream come true. His starter home has become his forever home.<\/p>\n
“Greatest thing to happen to me,” Campbell said.<\/p>\n
He bought it just after graduating college in the 1990s. Inside, he even has a stack of CDs to prove it.<\/p>\n
The retired real estate professional, who is on a fixed income, recently poured almost $35,000 into a new front porch and a new roof, but now, with Mayor Mamdani proposing a property tax increase, he feels duped.<\/p>\n
“He lied. Not feel. It’s obvious,” Campbell said.<\/p>\n
That’s why Campbell was among the dozens of homeowners in Southeast Queens who turned out for what they said was an emergency response to the mayor.<\/p>\n
“Mayor Zohran Mamdani you, are out your goddamn mind?” said homeowner, James Johnson.<\/p>\n
“To the mayor, with the greatest respect, and every campaign speech and every debate where you engaged, we opened our ears to listen,” said homeowner, Pierry Benjamin. “Now today, accept the words echoing from us now, do your job as mayor and leave our taxes out.”<\/p>\n
To close a $5.4 billion budget gap, the mayor says he has two options: convince Governor Kathy Hochul to tax the wealthy, which she refuses to do, or raise the city property tax rate by 9.5%.<\/p>\n
“Faced with no other choice, the city would have to exercise the only revenue lever fully within our own control. We would have to raise property taxes,” Mamdani said.<\/p>\n
But the City Council would have to approve the measure, and Council Speaker Julie Menin says the proposal “should not be on the table whatsoever.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hochul for her part is unlikely to soften her position as she faces reelection this year.<\/p>\n
“You are giving only two options. You’re saying if we don’t tax the rich then I gotta increase property taxes,” Johnson said. “We are not a pawn in Southeast Queens. We are not part of your negotiation tactics.”<\/p>\n
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