Gov. Kathy Hochul teased new taxes to fund her and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s universal childcare program Friday — as she faces rising pressure from his lefty allies to hike levies in the wake of Democrats’ midterm domination.
“When we have a severe need for something extraordinary, I am willing to do what has to happen,” Hochul — fresh off her re-election win — told reporters from the Somos political conference in Puerto Rico.
“I think you’ll see a thoughtful approach to this, it is not ideological, it’s pragmatic and what we need to do is deliver for the people to put us in office,” she said, just moments after Mamdani — who stood grinning at her side — confirmed he still stood firm in his “tax the rich” beliefs.
“I’ve always been clear about where I stand, I continue to hold those positions, and I’m also looking forward to continuing a productive working relationship with our governor to deliver for working people,” the mustachioed mayor said when asked about raising taxes on the wealthy.
The political odd couple formed an alliance on the campaign trail that proved fruitful for Hochul, a moderate Democrat who cruised to a crushing 20-point victory over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman Tuesday.
But Hochul continued to dance around the issue of potential new taxes next year — as she did on the campaign trail as Mamdani and his Democratic Socialists of America cronies called for hikes.
“We’ll be announcing our path forward,” she said Friday. “Stay tuned for the state of the state, 2027.”
Reporters specifically asked Hochul about continued state cash for the city’s universal childcare program, which is budgeted until 2028 — asking how she would ensure it remains funded beyond that.
She suggested she was open to adding taxes to fill the gap so the free programs could be sustained “for generations to come.”
“I want to make sure that we have a path forward that is sustainable. We fully fund childcare, and this is how we work to provide for generations to come,” Hochul said.
When asked for further specifics, she demurred, saying, “there’s no answers on it yet,” but hinting they may be coming soon.
It was yet another sign that Hochul may be giving in to the Mamdani mob’s lefty tax policies, which she staunchly opposed when Hizzoner took office in January — only to waver at the tail-end of her campaign as she sought out his Big Apple voter base.
Just days before the election, she delivered a waffling answer when asked outright if she would back Mamdani’s socialist agenda, saying they would work together “regardless of what my supporters or his supporters say.”
But his supporters saw an opening after Hochul’s domination on Tuesday, and the widespread victories Dems enjoyed across the nation, where both the House and Senate went blue.
“I’m hopeful that Hochul has seen the energy, the excitement that can come from the masses of people who want and deserve a better government,” NYC-DSA co-chair Grace Mauser told the City Reporter Wednesday, echoing other lefty leaders calling on Hochul to fall in line.
Funding universal childcare in the city – a cornerstone of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign that was backed and funded by Hochul in May – would be no cheap task in the long-term.
Childcare funding statewide went from $2.8 billion last year to $4.5 billion this year.
Hochul said she would “find a creative path” to fund the programs “long term” when pressed Friday — but didn’t rule out tax increases to do so.
Some past creative paths to increase revenue included Hochul’s pied-à-terre tax on luxury secondary residences in New York City announced in the spring, along with the employer payroll tax she finagled a year earlier to cover the MTA’s massive deficits.
“I’ve always operated that way,” Hochul said. “That is not a newsflash.”
