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Casino mogul and former Trump secretary join forces to take on NYC’s pied-à-terre tax
The suit says the surcharge is unconstitutional and could cost Ross more than $83,000 and Wynn over $183,000.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn and former Trump administration commerce secretary Wilbur Ross sued the state on Monday to block New York City's pied-à-terre tax, arguing the surcharge is unconstitutional because it discriminates against people who do not primarily live in the state.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani championed the pied-à-terre tax as a way to generate $500 million annually from wealthy second-home owners, targeting properties valued above $5 million or condos above $1 million that are not primary residences.
Individual assessments show Ross liable for more than $83,000 on his Manhattan co-op and Wynn facing over $183,000 on his city property, despite both being Florida residents with additional holdings like Ross's Hamptons home on Long Island.
Gov. Kathy Hochul's office dismissed the challenge, stating Wynn and Ross strengthen the case for the tax by seeking sympathy over their financial obligations, while a judge on Tuesday ruled against the city's rollout procedures and ordered it to restart with greater due diligence.
Wynn and Ross argue that pied-à-terre owners already contribute substantially through property taxes and charitable giving, as the city confronts ongoing procedural questions about fairly administering the new surcharge amid multiple legal battles.