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Donovan Richards: “He made it clear that this is a nuclear option, that he…”

Featuring: Donovan Richards, Democratic | Borough President of Queens | New York

'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum

Published February 19, 2026 | Video Starts at 09:26

What did he say to when you confronted him about how this would hurt minority communities? Yeah, he made it clear. This is, he's. He made it clear that this is a nuclear option, that he absolutely does not want this to be, be the first option on the table. However, as the leader of Queens County, 2.4 million people, my constituents are hearing this. So once you put this on the table, you really are creating alarm. (09:26–09:33)

CLAIM

Asserts that the proposed measure is considered a last resort by [Mayor Mamdani].

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Donovan Richards

“200,000 black New Yorkers left New York City over the last decade partially because of this affordability crisis.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 03:16-03:25
“Could we put up more parking meters, which would generate close to 1.3 billion in revenue a year.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 16:00-16:06
“We're paying five times the amount on property taxes than that owner [in Park Slope].”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 17:23-17:28
“Middle class homeowners, especially homeowners of color, have always borne the brunt of the unfair property tax system in the city.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 00:53-01:07
“A homeowner in southeast Queens pays more taxes than some brownstone owner in Brooklyn whose property is worth $5 million.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 01:06-01:16
“I was part of the property tax reform task force under the de Blasio administration.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 01:19-01:25
“More than half of Queens residents are homeowners.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 02:59-03:07
“We need to make sure that affordability is mixed in with not just rentals, but a pathway to affordable home ownership.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 06:19-06:27
“We're working on [affordable homeownership opportunities] with the governor at the former Creedmoor site. 50 acres we're going to be…”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 06:26-06:33
“If this plan went through, this would be a deterrent for people to not be able to own homes.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 06:56-07:07
“Tax liens and foreclosures [are] rising, especially in communities of color.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 07:15-07:20
“This is a non starter. And I think you're starting to hear a lot of the political class...saying, no, no, no, no, no, no, this cannot, we…”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 07:57-08:13
“The governor just dropped 1.5 billion extra to the city.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 15:14-15:19
“Originally [the budget gap] was 12 billion, a little bit over 12 billion. Then it comes down to 7. And then, you know, yesterday it came…”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 15:27-15:36
“The police department excessively abuses their overtime.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 15:46-15:53
“Somebody in central Brooklyn or southeast Queens should not be paying more than some brownstone owner in Park Slope whose Brownstone is…”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 17:09-17:20
“He's sending a bill to Albany to examine this [property tax reform].”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 17:30-17:36