NEW YORK (WABC) — Governor Kathy Hochul is meeting Thursday with billionaire hedge fund founder Ken Griffin.
The conversation comes as state and city leaders search for ways to strengthen the economy and close New York City’s growing budget gap.
The meeting follows recent attention on Griffin after he was mentioned by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a video promoting a proposed “pied à terre” tax on second homes valued at more than $5 million.
Mamdani cited Griffin and his Manhattan residence by name while urging support for the tax, a move Griffin characterized as a personal attack.
Griffin is the founder and CEO of Citadel, one of the world’s largest hedge funds and market trading firms.
Discussions with Hochul are expected to focus on the state’s economic outlook, including the proposed tax on luxury second homes, which city leaders argue could help generate new revenue.
The mayor is simultaneously pressing state lawmakers for additional funding to help close a projected $5 billion city budget gap.
As part of that effort, Mamdani is meeting Thursday afternoon with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. Earlier this week, he met with Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya.
Governor Hochul said earlier this week that her meeting with Griffin was scheduled months before the mayor’s video gained traction and emphasized that she regularly meets with business leaders to discuss economic issues affecting the state.
