Billionaire Catsimatidis Unsure If He'll Run For Mayor, But Doesn't Want Someone Taxing The Rich

From Mother Jones

Gristede's billionaire John Catsimatidis has long been interested in being Mayor of New York, and recently he met with national GOP head, Reince Priebus, though not about local politics (maybe they were discussing the Nixons?). But he tells the Observer, "I've got mixed emotions about it now. Right now I am going to observe and see what is going on."

However, Catsimatidis wants to make sure business leaders are protected, "What I think we need is a mayor who is going to be pro-business, and we don't need a mayor who is going to say, 'Let's kick out the rich, let's tax the rich.' We don't need people that are trying to kill the people that create good jobs... The top two percent of the population are the ones that create good jobs. That two percent is under attack like we are the enemy."

Huh, maybe he should check out this Slate series about the horrible income inequality in the United States. And the gap between the rich and poor is at its widest point ever in NYC. But he's probably one of those billionaires who doesn't think $7 million is enough for millionaires.

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By Jen Chung in News on March 17, 2011 1:39 PM

Comments [rss]

whatidsay

Check out the prices at the Gristede's in Brooklyn Heights and you'll see that, while he may not want to tax the rich, he has no objection to soaking them. Plus, the food is as stale and out of date as he is.

ANGRYGOD11

He should just forget about this. Most voters don't live in Manhattan and owning Gristede's is not a good selling point. The last thing most NYC voters are looking for is another billionaire to replace Bloomie in the next election. He could be the nicest guy, cure cancer and a top notch administrator and it wouldn't matter.

C_Right_THRU_U

His stores are overpriced dumps and his employees are untrained morons. Plus the guy looks as dumpy as his store. No one would ever vote for him.

ssblogreader

Agreed, I can't decide whether Gristedes or Duane Reade is better at price gouging. Gristedes prices make Whole Foods look like the McDonald's dollar menu

oinonio

This guy sounds like a serious wanker. Let him go be mayor in some Arizona town.

Gothampc

Perhaps he should find out why the Gristede's at Sheridan Square has been undergoing renovation for at least a bazillion years. How long does it take to renovate a store with 6 aisles?