NYC Mayor Mamdani Proposes Tax Hikes on Wealthy Whites to Fund 'Black and Brown' Political Machine

Mamdani claims higher taxes are needed to address 'decades of neglect and discrimination' against minority communities

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:41am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, fragmented painting in dark, muted tones depicting the silhouette of a city skyline repeated in overlapping geometric waves, conveying a sense of tension and division.Mamdani's proposed tax hikes on wealthy whites to fund his 'Black and Brown' political coalition reflect a return to the divisive ethnic politics of the past.Boston Today

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, is calling for higher taxes on prosperous white residents to fund his 'Black and Brown' political coalition of immigrants and minorities. Mamdani justifies the tax hikes by citing racial wealth gaps and a 'long history of racism' in the city. Critics argue Mamdani's policies represent a return to the ethnic 'political machine' politics of the past, which they say are fueled by government programs like affirmative action and immigration.

Why it matters

Mamdani's proposed tax increases and 'equity-focused' policies highlight the growing trend of ethnic-based political coalitions and 'race-based' governance in some U.S. cities. This approach, critics say, risks further dividing communities along racial lines and creating a new form of 'race communism' where political power is wielded to benefit certain demographic groups at the expense of others.

The details

In a speech on April 6, Mamdani declared that the 'affordability crisis' in New York City disproportionately impacts 'black and brown New Yorkers.' He argued that the median white household in the city has over $200,000 in wealth, compared to less than $20,000 for black households. Mamdani said the city must 'reckon with the long history of racism' and 'put equity right at the center' of its policies, including through higher taxes on the wealthy.

  • Mamdani made his remarks on April 6, 2026.
  • Mamdani's 'Preliminary Racial Equity Plan' was the first step in developing a 'whole-of-government approach' to addressing racial inequities.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The Democratic mayor of New York City who is calling for higher taxes on wealthy white residents to fund his 'Black and Brown' political coalition.

Mark Krikorian

The director of the Center for Immigration Studies, who argues that Mamdani's ethnic-based politics are an outgrowth of large-scale immigration and government programs like affirmative action.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We know that these effects are not applied evenly: So often it is black and brown New Yorkers who are hit the hardest. This Preliminary Racial Equity Plan is the first in developing a whole-of-government approach to tackling that reality … to solve decades of neglect and discrimination.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“When you have large-scale, ongoing immigration, you're going to have this kind of thing. There's no real way around it. No appeal to ethnic neutrality is going to prevent it. You're going to have politicians who are going to appeal to this [ethnic] impulse [because they] see it as a way to build coalitions, and some are going to win elections and do this kind of thing.”

— Mark Krikorian, Director, Center for Immigration Studies

What’s next

The mayor's proposed tax hikes and 'racial equity' policies are likely to face legal challenges from the federal government, which has taken steps to target corruption and misuse of federal aid programs in 'sanctuary cities' under the Trump administration.

The takeaway

Mamdani's embrace of 'Black and Brown' identity politics and his push for higher taxes on wealthy whites to fund his political coalition represents a return to the kind of ethnic-based 'political machine' politics that dominated many U.S. cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Critics warn this approach risks further dividing communities along racial lines and could lead to a form of 'race communism' where political power is wielded to benefit certain demographic groups at the expense of others.