Ken Griffin, the founder and chief executive of the hedge fund and market trading firm Citadel, said on April 28 that he will meet with New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday to discuss the "future direction" of the city.
The announcement followed a dispute in which Miami-based Citadel objected to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's use of Griffin's name as part of a push to impose taxes on individuals who live outside the state but own residences in New York City.
Griffin made the comments while speaking on a panel at a Norges Bank Investment Management conference. When asked whether he would consider running for public office, he answered bluntly: "No one would vote for me."
He added that he planned to meet with Governor Hochul to discuss the future direction of the state capital, raising broader questions about fiscal management and the city's stance toward business. In his remarks, Griffin asked: "Is New York going to put their fiscal house in order and run itself from a position of strong government that's pro-business? Why do Americans think we can do socialism?"
Context and immediate developments
The planned meeting with the governor comes after Citadel expressed objection to the mayoral attempt to invoke Griffin's name in a proposal aimed at taxing out-of-state residents who own New York City properties. The firm is based in Miami, and its founder publicly addressed both the political maneuver and the question of his own political ambitions during the conference panel.
What was said on the record
- On running for office: "No one would vote for me."
- On New York's policy direction and fiscal posture: "Is New York going to put their fiscal house in order and run itself from a position of strong government that's pro-business? Why do Americans think we can do socialism?"
Implications for markets and policy debates
Griffin's public positioning and the planned conversation with Governor Hochul are likely to focus attention on fiscal policy decisions and the regulatory environment that affect corporate and private owners of real estate in New York City. The matter has drawn notice because it involves a high-profile financial firm and a municipal tax proposal that targets non-resident property owners.
Note: The comments and meeting schedule described above were made public by Griffin during a panel at a Norges Bank Investment Management conference.