New York releases list of wealthy property owners amid plan for new second‑home tax
City officials released names and addresses of luxury property owners while defending the move as part of a plan to tax second homes; critics say it endangers residents’ safety.
New York city authorities published a public list containing names and addresses of owners of luxury properties as part of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to introduce an annual tax on second homes valued above $5 million and on condominiums and co‑ops valued above $1 million.
The disclosure touched off sharp criticism and became the focal point of a City Council hearing called to examine how the measure was being implemented. Council member Camila Hanks said the list "unfairly targets owners and represents a security risk, creating divisions among residents." The New York Department of Finance replied that the published information was already publicly available under the administration's legal obligations.
Scope and high‑profile names
City officials said the compilation covered nearly one million properties and included addresses linked to well‑known figures such as hedge‑fund manager Ken Griffin—whose penthouse was listed at $239 million—director Woody Allen, former Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actress Cynthia Nixon.
After the public release, authorities sent tax notices to roughly 17,000 individuals identified as potentially liable under the new proposal. Supporters of the plan argue the measure targets wealthy absentee owners and would raise revenue for city services; critics warn of privacy and safety consequences from making detailed ownership data widely available.
The debate in the council highlighted tensions between transparency, tax enforcement and personal security, and officials said further adjustments to how information is published could be considered as the proposal moves forward.
Photo: Gradska uprava na Njujork)
