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‘Tax the Whites’ proposal draws flak
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Zohran Mamdani’s controversial tax plan sparks outrage; Indian-origin civil rights attorney Harmeet Dhillon calls for investigation into potential racial discrimination
Indian-American civil rights attorney and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, has issued a strong warning against Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral hopeful, over his proposal to increase taxes in “whiter neighborhoods.” Dhillon stated that the scheme could violate federal constitutional and statutory norms, and possibly New York state laws. Her comments came during an appearance on The Benny Johnson Show, as Republican leaders mounted resistance against Mamdani, who is leading in the Democratic primary race following Andrew Cuomo’s concession, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Mamdani, an elected state legislator and a Democratic Socialist, has outlined a property tax reform plan that proposes lowering taxes for working-class and predominantly Black neighborhoods such as Jamaica and Brownsville, while raising taxes in wealthier, predominantly white areas like Brooklyn’s brownstone districts.
According to Mamdani’s campaign document:
“The Mayor can fix this by pushing class assessment percentage down for everyone and adjusting rates up, effectively lowering tax payments for homeowners in neighborhoods like Jamaica and Brownsville while increasing the amount paid in the most expensive Brooklyn brownstones.”
This has prompted outrage among conservative groups, with some calling for Mamdani’s deportation, despite the fact that he is a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2018.
Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent Indian-American GOP figure, said Mamdani’s proposal amounts to racial discrimination and could warrant a Department of Justice investigation
Interestingly, both Mamdani and Dhillon share Indian roots, though their ideologies differ sharply. Harmeet Dhillon, born in Chandigarh, moved to the U.S. as a child, later attending Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School. A known Republican figure, she made history in 2016 as the first Indian-American woman to speak at the GOP national convention.
On the other hand, Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda to Indian-origin parents and moved to the U.S. in 1998. He became a citizen just seven years ago. If elected, Mamdani would become the first Muslim mayor of New York City, a milestone some political observers believe has led to increased scrutiny of his citizenship and policies.
While Mamdani’s supporters defend the proposal as a progressive step toward tax equity, critics argue that race-based taxation policy violates equal protection clauses and is inherently discriminatory.
The Department of Justice has yet to confirm whether it will open a formal investigation into Mamdani’s plan.
