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Donovan Richards: “We need to make sure that affordability is mixed in with not…”

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 06:19

… recently, over the course of the last five decades, really been able to own a home, we need to make sure that we are strengthening opportunities for communities of color. We need to make sure that affordability is mixed in with not just rentals, but a pathway to affordable home ownership. Something we're working on with the governor at the former Creedmoor site. 50 acres we're going to be developing. (06:19–06:27)

CLAIM

Asserts the need for affordable homeownership opportunities alongside rental affordability.

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'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
“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.”
'The Middle Class Should Not Be A Bargaining Chip': Top NYC Dem Reacts To Mamdani's Tax Ultimatum | Uploaded February 19, 2026 | 09:26-09:33
“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