Democratic New York City Mayor controversial luxury-home tax rollout is back on track, at least for now, after a New York appeals court on Thursday lifted the roadblock that had stopped the city from moving ahead.
Judge Philip Hom temporarily lifted the order blocking the city from moving ahead with the rollout, allowing the surcharge process to resume while the legal battle continues.
Randy Mastro, the attorney representing the homeowners challenging the rollout, blasted the administration in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“It is a shame that the City cant own up to its own mistakes and admit that it has badly botched the rollout of this surcharge,” Mastro said. “Instead, the administration is doubling down, going to court to ensure that it can continue harassing and threatening New York City homeowners who clearly are permanent residents â something the City would know if it would only do its homework.”
Mastro accused Mamdani of pushing ahead with thousands of surcharge notices he called “blatantly illegal.”
“It is, quite frankly, outrageous that this Mayor is so desperate to further his agenda that hes continuing to try to enforce thousands [of] surcharge notices that are blatantly illegal,” Mastro said.
“We remain confident that when we are back in court in a mere 18 days, the thousands of New York City homeowners who are now illegally burdened with the responsibility of proving they do indeed live in their own homes will finally get the permanent relief they deserve,” he added.
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Mastros office also confirmed to Fox News Digital on background that Thursdays development was procedural, allowing the city to move forward with its appeal while staying the temporary restraining order.
The homeowners are expected back in court Aug. 31, when they will seek permanent relief from the original judge.
The appellate order came after a sharp dispute over whether the citys decision to appeal had automatically put Judge Wayne Ozzis entire order on hold.
In an Aug. 11 letter to Ozzi, Mastro argued that most of the judges restrictions remained in effect and warned the city against pressing ahead with the surcharge.
Thursdays order removed that immediate uncertainty by staying Ozzis temporary restraining order while the citys appeal moves forward.
The latest turn comes just three days after Ozzi slammed the brakes on the citys rollout of the surcharge, which targets certain high-value properties that do not serve as primary residences.
Ozzi ordered the city to remove a disputed supplemental property roll from its website and temporarily blocked officials from taking further action based on th
