Proudly displayed in the window of my local Barnes and Noble are copies of a children’s book called Zohran Walks New York. It’s a graphic novel that shows our city’s new perma-grinning mayor meeting residents who are overwhelmingly happy to see him. A more instructive text for the children of Park Slope was tucked away in the corner of the basement: Animal Farm. I bought it for my 11-year-old daughter at the weekend. She’s into dystopian novels. 

More people will become hooked on state benefits and more staff will be needed to shove piles of cash towards them

More people will become hooked on state benefits and more staff will be needed to shove piles of cash towards them

I thought of Orwell’s allegory of the Russian revolution this week when our mayor threatened to increase property tax to pay for his huge $127 billion budget. He says he will be left with no other choice if Governor Kathy Hochul refuses his plan to tax the rich, increasing income levies on the ultra-wealthy and corporations. 

The most obvious way of raising money was ignored: cutting costs. Mamdani has never had a job outside the public sector – save for a brief career as a rapper – nor has he ever run a large organization. The state has always taken care of him. And........

© The Spectator