New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently begged rich New Yorkers who fled to states with cheaper taxes to return so she can fund "generous social programs."
The clip went viral because a Democrat finally admitted that high taxes drive away the wealthy.
“And being conscious of the fact that I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state,” Hochul said. “Right now, there are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up. OK, cut me the checks if you want to be supportive. But maybe the first step should be to go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring home, because our tax base has been eroded… I have to look at the fact that we are in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden.”
This Kathy Hochul clip that went viral - begging taxpayers to return to fallen blue states - will be used in campaign ads for red state governors for years to come. https://t.co/hkgUTZVS0t
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) March 19, 2026
Remote work, popularized after COVID-19, allowed high-worth people and companies to go South to states with lower tax rates, Hochul said.
"There were people who could only work in an office in Manhattan and work in New York state. And they were captives to our state, they were going to stay. We saw that that's not the case. Wall Street businesses looking at Texas, they're not going there because they have a nicer governor. They're going there because of the tax rate."
New York Gov Kathy Hochul is begging wealthy people who have moved to Florida and Texas to come back to New York and pay taxes. 🤣
— Based Jessica (@RealJessica) March 18, 2026
"I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state. Now, there are some patriotic… pic.twitter.com/B4ql1ktcq6
Kathy Hochul admits it: the rich are fleeing New York for lower taxes.
— Stephen Moore (@StephenMoore) March 19, 2026
Meanwhile, Florida beats NY in population, spends half as much, and delivers better services.
Maybe it’s time NY stops punishing success? pic.twitter.com/ebWNeqz6mp
The clip followed a new report from New York City's comptroller, which found that spending on NYC homeless population hit $81,705 per person last year, up from $28,428 six years ago.
Absolutely astounding figures from the NY state comptroller: spending on services for the NYC street homeless population ran to $81,705 per person last year, up from $28,428 pp 6yrs ago. Figures do not include all kinds of other spending, supportive housing, policing costs etc. pic.twitter.com/ryk3Ojo03I
— Mike Bird (@Birdyword) March 15, 2026
Just to be clear to the folks who think the solution to homeless is just to give them housing: NYC is spending $6,750 per month per homeless person on the street. Even in Manhattan, that rents an extremely nice apartment for one person. https://t.co/0hLrEbaYWe
— Daniel Friedman (@DanFriedman81) March 15, 2026
In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to hike property taxes, lower the exemption on the death tax and increase the death tax from 16 percent to 50 percent.
Mamdani has proposed to lower the exemption on the death tax from $7.1 million to only $750k.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) March 13, 2026
He also wants to increase the death tax from 16% to 50%.
NYC has 123 billionaires with an average age of 67 yrs old.
If it passes, NYC will have a $1 trillion+ exodus in wealth. pic.twitter.com/dU3BFlHDVq
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul is asking "high net worth" taxpayers to "go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring back home" "to support the generous social programs we have in our state." There is another novel approach: change your policies to make people want to come back...
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 18, 2026
