NYC mayor's pied-à-terre tax roll sparks criticism over privacy concerns
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s release of a property database intended to support a proposed pied-à-terre tax has drawn criticism from professor Scott Galloway and real-estate groups, who say it could expose owners to unwanted attention.
New York City officials have made public a searchable database of property owners whose non-primary residences may be subject to a proposed pied-à-terre tax. The Department of Finance says the roll is required by state law and has been published regularly for decades.
Professor and podcaster Scott Galloway, who appears on the "Pivot" podcast, said the list puts owners at risk of harassment. > "I’ve been doxed," he said, adding that the publication resembles a "wanted poster" for property owners. Co-host Kara Swisher echoed the concern, describing the release as "a little bit like doxing."
The mayor’s office responded that the roll is a standard tax record, not a specific list of those who will be taxed, and that the pied-à-terre surcharge will apply only to non-primary residences valued over $5 million. A city official noted that state law mandates publishing a roll of every property parcel with ownership details, which is then used by the Department of Finance to identify properties subject to the surcharge.
The Real Estate Board of New York also expressed opposition, citing concerns about the complexity of determining liability and the accuracy of notices sent to owners. The debate highlights tension between transparency requirements and privacy considerations in implementing the new tax measure.