Prominent liberal podcaster and New York University professor Scott Galloway said he has been «doxed» by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration after the city published a searchable database identifying owners of expensive non-primary residences that could be subject to a proposed pied-à-terre tax. Galloway said the publicly accessible roll of roughly 950,000 properties endangers landowners and amounts to a «wanted poster» for successful New Yorkers.
On the latest episode of the «Pivot» podcast, Galloway discussed the database with co-host Kara Swisher and said he had learned that his own information was included. «I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Mayor Mamdani has decided to release a list of the 950,000 residences with addresses and names that might be eligible for his pied-à-terre tax,» he said. Swisher replied that she could not say she loved the move. «It feels a little bit like doxing. Just tax them and get on with it is my feeling.»
Galloway then read the definition of doxing — publishing private identifying information to expose someone to public pressure or harm without their consent — and said that while he supports the tax, he objects to how the list has been framed. «He’s taken a legitimate source of tax revenue, and he’s turning it into a wanted poster,» he said. He questioned the upside of publication, noting that a healthcare CEO was killed on a New York City street about 18 months ago and asking why the city would publish a list of names and addresses in that climate.
He also argued that the rollout plays directly into conservative narratives about progressive taxation. «He’s not only playing into the worst fears about him, but he’s making it harder for all progressives,» Galloway said. «I believe in a progressive tax structure. I believe we should raise tax rates. The Republicans, in order to create deficits and continue to transfer money from the poor to the rich, they argue that progressive tax structures are persecution. This plays exactly into that entire narrative.»
Galloway went on to say the mayor is implying that successful people have done something wrong. «New York is the last place you want to demonize success,» he said. He described the city as a place where people move to pursue careers in business, the arts, and other fields without interference, and said officials should celebrate achievement rather than «put a big R on your door.» He also noted that 95 percent of the people on the list would supposedly not be subject to the tax.
The database, released by the city’s Department of Finance, allows users to search properties and view the names and addresses of owners whose non-primary residences could be subject to the proposed surcharge. A department spokesperson said publication of the roll is required by state law. The tax is designed to apply to non-primary residences worth more than $5 million.
James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, criticized the administration’s handling of the roll. «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. Even we did not expect implementation to be this flawed.»
Mamdani’s office defended the publication, saying the city publishes property tax rolls as do other localities and has done so for years, if not decades and centuries. At a recent press conference, the mayor said the roll posted last week reflects all properties across New York City and is not a list of properties that will be taxed. He said the pied-à-terre tax would apply only to non-primary residences worth more than $5 million and that recently passed legislation required the roll to be published before the surcharge is implemented.