New York State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay is urging lawmakers to reject any proposals that could raise taxes, warning that even discussions of higher rates risk deepening the state’s ongoing economic crisis.
In a column released Friday, Barclay took aim at what he sees as growing openness from Albany’s progressive wing to consider tax increases—particularly after Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist, was elected Mayor of New York City.
Barclay accused Gov. Kathy Hochul of sending mixed signals on the issue and warned that even proposals targeting corporations and wealthy individuals could eventually shift the burden to everyday New Yorkers as businesses leave and the state’s tax base erodes.
Barclay cited U.S. Census data showing that nearly 900,000 more people left New York than moved in between 2021 and 2024, and pointed to the state’s poor rankings in multiple tax categories. “New York ranks dead last in overall tax competitiveness,” he wrote, citing figures from the Tax Foundation, and argued it would be “ridiculous” to consider adding to what he called a “cartoonishly broken” system.
To address affordability, Barclay is backing bill A.7417, which would eliminate state sales tax on fuel, household products, personal care items, and ready-to-eat foods sold in places like grocery stores, restaurants, diners, and food trucks. The bill would also allow local governments to adopt the same cuts.
He also highlighted a second proposal—bill A.8752, introduced by Assemblyman Ed Ra—which would exempt the first $50,000 of income for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees from state income tax.
Barclay criticized Gov. Hochul for using “affordability” as a buzzword without backing it up with action. “New York, by most every measure, is not affordable,” he said.
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