Liberal Podcaster Scott Galloway Says Mamdani’s Property Database Is a ‘Wanted Poster’
By Rachel Whitman
New York City’s progressive mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is facing a rare backlash from his own side over a new publicly searchable database that lists nearly 950,000 property owners. The database, published by the city’s Department of Finance, is meant to help identify wealthy second-home owners who could be subject to a proposed pied-à-terre tax. But critics, including prominent liberal podcaster and NYU professor Scott Galloway, say it crosses a line into doxing and could endanger those listed.
What is the Pied-à-Terre Tax Database?
The database allows users to search by name or address to find owners of non-primary residences valued over $5 million. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the publication is required by state law. But Galloway, co-host of the popular “Pivot” podcast, called it a “wanted poster” that unfairly targets successful New Yorkers.
“I’ve been doxed,” Galloway said on the podcast. “Mayor Mamdani has decided to release a list of 950,000 residences with addresses and names that might be eligible for his pied-à-terre tax.”
Co-host Kara Swisher agreed, saying, “It feels a little bit like doxing. Just tax them and get on with it is my feeling.”
Why Progressives Are Split on the Database
Galloway, a self-described progressive who supports higher taxes on the wealthy, argued that the list undermines the very values that make New York attractive. “The reason people move to New York is they think, ‘I want to be successful. No one’s going to get in my way if I’m talented and work hard,’” he said. “We’re going to celebrate it. We’re not going to put a big R on your door and say you’ve done something wrong because you’re successful.”
He also noted that 95% of the people on the list are not actually subject to the tax. “Other than implying these people have done something wrong and publishing their address without their consent, what possible upside is there?” he asked.
Galloway warned that Mamdani’s approach plays into conservative narratives. “The Republicans argue that progressive tax structures are persecution. This plays exactly into that narrative,” he said.
City Officials Defend the Roll as Standard Practice
Mamdani’s office pushed back, noting that property tax rolls have been published for decades. “Just like localities from Nassau to Albany, we publish property tax rolls in accordance with the law,” the mayor said. “The roll is not a pied-à-terre list. It is a state mandated roll that has to be generated to be used as a pool that the Department of Finance will examine to identify which properties are subject to a surcharge.”
A city official added that similar public rolls exist in other cities, including San Francisco and Chicago, and that the data is not new. “The same type of citywide property tax rolls has been published publicly on an annual basis for decades,” the official said.
Real Estate Industry Warns of Flawed Implementation
The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) also weighed in. President James Whelan said, “We opposed this tax in part because we warned that determining who is and is not subject to it would be extraordinarily complicated. The fact that so many owners appear to be receiving inaccurate notices raises serious questions about the City’s readiness to administer the program.”
FAQ: What You Need to Know
Is the database really doxing?
Doxing is defined as publishing private identifying information to expose someone to public pressure or harm without their consent. While the city says the roll is a routine public record, critics like Galloway argue that making it easily searchable in this context is a form of doxing, especially given recent political violence.
Who is subject to the pied-à-terre tax?
The proposed tax would apply only to non-primary residences worth more than $5 million. The database includes all properties, meaning the vast majority of listed owners will not be taxed.
Why publish the list now?
City officials say state law requires publication of the property roll before implementing any new surcharge. They insist it is a standard administrative step, not a political weapon.
What This Means for Progressive Politics
The controversy highlights a growing tension within the progressive movement: how to tax wealth effectively without alienating the successful people who drive urban economies. Galloway’s critique is especially pointed because it comes from a liberal ally who supports the tax itself. “He’s not only playing into the worst fears about him, but he’s making it harder for all progressives,” Galloway said of Mamdani.
As the debate unfolds, one thing is clear: the line between transparency and targeting is thinner than ever in New York City politics.