Judge deals blow to Mamdani’s pied-a-terre tax rollout

A New York judge has ordered Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to start over with its rollout of the new pied-a-terre tax, handing a setback to one of his signature policies.

Justice Wayne Ozzi sided with plaintiffs who argued that the city unlawfully shifted the burden onto homeowners to prove their residency status, rather than verifying it itself. He did not strike down the tax.

The city is expected to appeal the ruling.

The decision comes as the tax faces a separate constitutional challenge from businessmen Wilbur Ross and Steve Wynn, who argue that the surcharge itself is unlawful.