New York Gov. Kathy Hochul might pull another switcheroo — pledging not to raise taxes, only to boost them after the November election, as she did with congestion pricing, former Republican Gov. George Pataki warned Sunday.
Pataki predicted that the dithering Democrat, who is seeking a second, full four-year term, will resist Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist demands to hike taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents and corporations — at least for now.
But all bets are off after the election, the three-term ex-Gov said, noting that Hochul ditched the hated congestion toll to enter the Manhattan business district in June 2024, before then directing the MTA to ram through the $9 toll after the 2024 elections.
“She’s going to tell him ‘No’ between now and November because this is an election year. But as soon as November is over, if history with how she acts is any guide, the legislature and she are going to say, ‘OK. Too bad, but, yes, go raise taxes.’ It will be a disaster,” Pataki warned on 77 WABC’s “Cats Roundtable” program.
“That’s what happened with congestion pricing: ‘Oh, we’re going to halt congestion pricing.’ And then right after the election, we had congestion pricing,” he told host John Catsimatidis.
Catsimatidis chimed in, saying he felt like congestion pricing was approved “five minutes” after the 2024 election.
Pataki, who slashed state income taxes while in Albany, was the last Republican elected to statewide office in 2002.
He said the mere discussion of tax hikes could be enough to persuade more New Yorkers to flee to sunbelt states that have no state income taxes, such as Florida and Texas.
“Not only do we have the second-highest tax burden in the country, but now Mamdani is proposing massive tax increases on successful people in New York … If that is allowed to happen, it’s going to be a catastrophe,” Pataki said.
He said he’s “very concerned” and “really worried” about the Empire State’s future.
“The [state] budget is out of control … Wall Street has had a good year, so Albany has money. What does Hochul do? Massive increases in spending,” Pataki said.
“We have so-called temporary taxes that were passed in Albany 10 years ago that are supposed to be phased out. So long as Hochul and the Democrats run Albany, they’re not going to be phased out. They’re going to be there forever. My fear is that it’s just going to get worse,” he added.
Hochul’s office fired back at Pataki.
“Unlike Governor Pataki who made devastating cuts to programs New Yorkers depend on like school aid and public transportation, Governor Hochul’s budget will make record investments in critical services without raising income taxes on any New Yorkers,” a Hochul spokesperson said.
“New Yorkers can trust that Governor Hochul will continue delivering on her affordability agenda that includes a substantial child tax credit, no tax on tips, and a record middle class tax cut that will deliver nearly $1 billion in tax relief to more than 8.3 million New Yorkers beginning this year.”
