GOP gubernatorial hopeful Blakeman vows to scrap NYC pied-a-terre tax amid rollout chaos

During a Thursday press briefing, Republican gubernatorial contender Bruce Blakeman said he would repeal the pied-a-terre tax immediately if elected, arguing it will drive residents and capital away from New York. He targeted Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing them of exposing homeowners by publishing a list of million-dollar secondary residences. The tax, which can reach 6.5 % on luxury homes, has sparked confusion, with longtime city dwellers receiving notices despite living there full-time.

Mayor Mamdani announced the city will add 24 new employees across the Department of Finance and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to field inquiries and process appeals. The hiring costs were not disclosed, though similar civil-service positions pay between $67,000 and $110,000. City officials reported that 17,000 notices have been sent, and owners have until Aug. 21 to contest the assessment.