Judge pauses New York City's second-home tax rollout pending lawsuit

A New York judge temporarily blocked the city's new tax on expensive second homes on Monday. Judge Wayne Ozzi ordered the city to take down its public tax list and stop sending notices to homeowners. He said the notices caused real harm because they did not explain why people were chosen for the extra charge. The tax applies to second homes worth more than five million dollars and could raise around 500 million dollars a year. The city quickly appealed the ruling, which automatically put the judge's order on hold. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city will fight strongly to defend the tax in court. The next hearing is scheduled for August 31. Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul proposed the tax to help close the city's budget gap.