NYC tech workers celebrate Mamdani’s mayoral win — but their bosses are worried

New York City tech workers largely celebrated the mayoral win of Zohran Mamdani, drawn to his progressive platform and his campaign's modern, social media-driven approach. Many rank-and-file employees were significant individual donors to his campaign, finding resonance in his promises to address the high cost of living, which impacts their own ability to afford housing in the city. However, Mamdani's victory has sparked concern among tech industry bosses. His agenda, described as far-left, includes proposed tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, a crackdown on the gig economy potentially disrupting business models of startups, and a critical stance on artificial intelligence. The appointment of Lina Khan, known for her antitrust actions against Big Tech, as co-chair of his transition team further amplified these anxieties. Business leaders are worried that Mamdani's policies could create a less favorable environment for the tech sector, which has grown significantly in New York City. While rank-and-file workers may not be as concerned about higher taxes on executives and companies, bosses fear a general anti-business sentiment that could deter innovation and growth. Despite these concerns, the industry acknowledges that the city's ability to raise taxes is somewhat constrained by the state, offering a small measure of ... download the app to read more