{"id":224328,"date":"2026-05-08T06:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T06:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/224328\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T06:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T06:49:10","slug":"jewish-real-estate-mogul-equates-mamdanis-tax-the-rich-with-from-the-river-to-the-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/224328\/","title":{"rendered":"Jewish real estate mogul equates Mamdani\u2019s \u2018tax the rich\u2019 with \u2018from the river to the sea\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York Jewish Week via JTA \u2014 Jewish real estate mogul Steven Roth compared New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s \u201ctax the rich\u201d rhetoric this week to racial slurs and pro-Palestinian rhetoric on an earnings call for his company, Vornado Realty Trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cI consider the phrase \u2018tax the rich,\u2019 when spit out with anger and contempt by politicians both here and across the country, to be just as hateful as some disgusting racial slurs and even the phrase, \u2018from the river to the sea,\u2019\u201d Roth said, referring to the phrase commonly used at pro-Palestinian protests that many Jewish groups consider an antisemitic call for the elimination of Israel.<\/p>\n

The remark by Roth, who has long been a notable donor to Jewish causes, adds to mounting tensions between New York business leaders and Mamdani over his recently announced \u201cpied-\u00e0-terre\u201d tax on second homes valued at more than $5 million.<\/p>\n

During the call Tuesday, Roth also expressed support for Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel, whose $238 million dollar penthouse was featured in a video by Mamdani announcing plans for the tax last month.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all shocked that our young mayor would pull this stunt in front of Ken\u2019s home and single him out for ridicule,\u201d Roth said. \u201cThe ugly, unnecessary video stunt is personal for Ken and sort of personal for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Roth\u2019s comments touched on a longstanding source of friction between Mamdani and some New York Jewish leaders, who have criticized the mayor over his views on Israel and his previous defense of the phrase \u201cglobalize the intifada,\u201d another common pro-Palestinian slogan viewed by many Jewish groups as a call to violence against Jews because the First and Second Intifadas were violent Palestinian uprisings.<\/p>\n

Happy Tax Day, New York. We\u2019re taxing the rich. pic.twitter.com\/Wky2LFXC9W<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) April 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In the wake of Mamdani\u2019s election, some Jewish business leaders, including Dave Portnoy, the Jewish founder of Barstool Sports, said that they planned to leave the city altogether, citing the mayor\u2019s fiscal policies and concerns about antisemitism under his leadership.\n<\/p>\n

In a statement responding to Roth\u2019s comments, Mamdani\u2019s office said that he wanted all New Yorkers to succeed, including \u201cbusiness owners and entrepreneurs who create good-paying jobs and make this city the economic engine of America.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat does not negate the fact, however, that our tax system is fundamentally broken. It rewards extreme wealth while working people are pushed to the brink,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe status quo is unsustainable and unjust,\u201d Mamdani\u2019s office said. \u201cIf we want this city to become a place that working people can afford, we need meaningful tax reform that includes the wealthiest New Yorkers contributing their fair share.\u201d<\/p>\n


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