Liberal Podcaster Galloway Criticizes NYC Mayor’s Property Database as ‘Wanted Poster’ for Wealthy Owners

Prominent liberal podcaster and New York University professor Scott Galloway has leveled criticism at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the release of a publicly searchable database containing information about affluent property owners. The database, published by the city’s Department of Finance, lists nearly 950,000 properties along with owner names and addresses of those potentially subject to a proposed pied-à-terre tax on non-primary residences.

During an episode of his “Pivot” podcast with co-host Kara Swisher, Galloway characterized the property list as a “wanted poster” that exposes owners to potential harassment and public safety risks. He defined doxing as “publishing private identifying information to expose someone to public pressure or harm without their consent,” and said while he supports progressive taxation, the methodology undermines the legitimacy of such policies.

Galloway argued the database sends a problematic message that success should be demonized, particularly in a city whose appeal rests on celebrating achievement. He noted that approximately 95 percent of those listed would not actually be subject to the tax, questioning the rationale for publishing their addresses without consent beyond implying wrongdoing based on wealth.

Mayor Mamdani’s office countered that New York State law mandates publication of annual property tax rolls as required procedure before implementing any new surcharge. A city official clarified that the released database represents all taxable properties citywide, not specifically those subject to the pied-à-terre surcharge, which applies only to non-primary residences valued above $5 million.

The Real Estate Board of New York expressed concern that the list contains numerous inaccurate notices, raising questions about administrative readiness. The city noted that similar publicly available property records have been published annually for decades in Nassau, Buffalo, and Rochester under state law requirements.