Texas – Texas Sen. Ted Cruz criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the mayor’s administration released a searchable database of property owners who could potentially be affected by a new tax on luxury second homes, accusing the move of putting people at risk of harassment and threats.
“Mamdani’s administration published the names and addresses of New York property owners he wants to tax more,” Cruz wrote on X. “That is not simply a tax policy. It is a list designed to expose people to harassment, threats, and potentially worse.”
Cruz’s comments came after New York City’s Department of Finance released a database containing information about property owners whose homes could fall under the city’s new pied-à-terre tax. The measure targets certain non-primary residences, with city officials saying the policy is aimed at requiring wealthy property owners to contribute more toward public services, The WSJ reported.
The database includes names and addresses connected to properties that may be subject to the tax, though appearing on the list does not necessarily mean a property owner will ultimately owe the tax. City officials said the list is part of the property review process and that some owners may qualify for exemptions.
The release sparked criticism from Republican lawmakers and other opponents, who argued that publicly compiling names and addresses of wealthy property owners could create privacy and security concerns. Critics described the database as a potential target list, while supporters of the policy said property ownership records are already public and that the database provides transparency for residents who may be affected, according to Fox NEWS.
Cruz went further in his criticism, accusing Mamdani of using tactics he compared to those employed by authoritarian governments.
(@tedcruz) via X | Video PrtScr – https://x.com/tedcruz/status/2082288824231571826
“This is who the communists are, and the word communist sounds jarring, but that is who these people are,” Cruz said in a Fox News interview. “Mamdani is not a socialist, he is a Marxist, he is a full-on communist.”
The Texas senator also referenced his family’s history under Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba while warning about what he described as the consequences of identifying political opponents and encouraging public pressure against them.
“My family has seen this firsthand,” Cruz said, referring to his father and aunt’s experiences in Cuba. “This can happen. And this is part and parcel of the strategy. It is identify the people you hate and then harass them, threaten them.”
Mamdani and his administration have defended the tax initiative, arguing that it is designed to address affordability concerns and generate revenue from wealthy property owners. The mayor has promoted the policy as a way to ensure those with expensive secondary residences contribute more toward city priorities, including public services.
The pied-à-terre tax proposal focuses on luxury secondary residences owned by individuals who do not live in New York City full time. City officials have estimated the measure could generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually, though outside estimates have projected different revenue totals.
The controversy has added to the growing national debate surrounding Mamdani’s political agenda, with Republican critics portraying his policies as part of a broader push toward socialist ideas, while supporters argue his proposals are intended to address economic inequality.
Cruz’s remarks also reflect broader Republican opposition to Mamdani, who has become a national figure because of his progressive platform and support from Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates. The Texas senator has repeatedly criticized what he describes as the influence of far-left political movements in major U.S. cities.
As debate continues over the database and the proposed tax, supporters and opponents remain divided over whether the release represents government transparency or an unnecessary exposure of private citizens.
