By Hannah de Haro and Simran Gill
Following the recent New York mayoral elections, the Big Apple’s wealthy elite have been quietly weighing up their options under their newly elected ‘democratic socialist’ Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Many are considering fleeing to Sadiq Khan’s London.
This is the result of Mamdani’s promise to tax New Yorkers with annual income of over one million dollars an extra 2%. The newly elected mayor has said the tax rises are in order to fund free buses and child care for the citizens of New York.
How will Londoners respond?
Rich New Yorkers would not benefit from being in London compared to New York, said Lucy Tailor, 20, who was studying in a local cafe on Holloway Road. “I’m not against immigration but I don’t think mass migration solves any issue long term”, she said, indicating that avoiding the root of the issue has no benefit in the long run.
“If you have the economic funding to support yourself, a rich New Yorker can have the chance of success in London but I think that others just want to flee New York out of hatred”, she added, saying that she believes some wealthy New Yorkers are not looking to migrate for economic reasons, but due to their personal dislike of the Ugandan-born, Indian and Muslim Mayor, Mamdani.
Tailor hopes he is successful during his term as mayor and believes that “it will be insightful and will open Americans to accept people from all backgrounds”.
On the other hand, Fezile Ndzinisa, 26, suggested that wealthy New Yorkers would benefit in London because “it opens up access to other European markets which is good for businesses”, in contrast to being limited to only US-based markets.
Ndzinisa, who was grocery shopping at a local Sainsbury’s, said that New Yorkers would find the economy in London a bit different, and that it “will be slower paced compared to New York because London has a smaller economy”.
Despite being for migration of rich New Yorkers, Ndzinisa supported the election of Mamdani saying: “It will be refreshing to see a city of immigrants being led by an immigrant.”
He added that the new privileged migrants could face some potential culture shocks, for example, changes in tax, weather differences, and free healthcare.
What is the solution?
Mamdani’s approach would benefit the citizens of New York and the state overall, so it seems that the unhappy 1% are acting out of dislike towards the immigrant mayor more than anything else.
Furthermore, his mayoral reign will last a period of four years – therefore it is a short-term obstacle to those who are considering and those who want to migrate to London.
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