NEW YORK, NY — Republican nominee for New York State Comptroller Joseph Hernandez condemned Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s newly unveiled “Block by Block” housing plan as government seizure of private property dressed up as housing reform. Hernandez pledged that he will audit every state dollar flowing into New York City, including the $8 billion state bailout over the next two years.
Mamdani announced this morning that his administration will “work to transfer ownership from bad landlords to responsible stewards,” including nonprofits, community land trusts, and tenant collectives. Real estate and business leaders blasted the plan as heavy-handed government overreach.
“Mamdani said it himself this morning: his government will decide who is worthy of owning property and who is not,” Hernandez said. “Karl Marx said the theory of Communism can be summed up in one sentence: the abolition of private property. Lenin and Castro made the same promises. Cuba went from one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America to economic ruin and dictatorship. Mamdani’s proposal is strictly un-American,” explained Hernandez.
This issue is personal to Hernandez as he grew up under Castro’s regime. During that time, Castro took over private property contributing to the fall of the Cuban economy and Hernandez’s eventual immigration to America.
Hernandez also stands to audit any state tax money given Albany’s $8 billion bailout to New York City over the next two years.
“New York State is sending $8 billion to New York City,” Hernandez said. “As Comptroller, I will audit every single dollar. And I will be watching every nonprofit that receives state grant money and then turns around and buys up properties under this scheme. That is exactly the kind of arrangement that demands independent oversight, and New Yorkers will know about it.”
Hernandez faulted Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for staying silent as Mamdani’s agenda advances.
“DiNapoli has said nothing about the bailout and nothing about this property seizure plan,” Hernandez said. “After 20 years in office, New Yorkers still do not have a real watchdog. That ends when I’m elected.”
“This election is about whether New York remains a place where you can own property, build something, and trust that the government will not come for it,” Hernandez added. “New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller who will follow the money and hold Albany accountable. That is exactly what I intend to do.”