Barbra Streisand says she is leaving New York City and selling her properties after deciding that supporting Mayor Zohran Mamdani was the biggest political mistake she has ever made.
Speaking to reporters outside her New York City penthouse, Streisand said she once believed Mamdani’s promises about taxes and his plans for the city. She now says she has completely changed her mind.
“He promised us that he would tax the rich only,” Streisand said. “But he broke all his promises, and now he’s after our hard-earned money.”
Streisand said she had initially viewed the tax proposals as something that would primarily affect the wealthiest New Yorkers. According to her, however, the policies now appear to have much broader consequences.
“I thought the whole idea was that the rich would pay more,” she said. “I didn’t think it would eventually feel like everyone was being asked to pay more.”
The actress and singer said taxes are not her only concern.
“On top of the taxes, there’s also the issue of communism,” Streisand said. “A little communism is what we were promised, but Mr. Mamdani has gone full-time communist.”
Streisand said the situation had reached the point where she no longer felt comfortable keeping her properties in New York City.
“I’ve made my decision,” she said. “I’m selling everything and moving to California.”
The announcement represents a dramatic change for Streisand, who has maintained a strong connection to New York for decades. The city has played an important role in her career, and her name has long been associated with its entertainment and cultural scene.
But Streisand said personal history was no longer enough to convince her to stay.
“You can love a city and still decide you don’t want to live there anymore,” she said. “That’s where I am right now.”
She also admitted that she feels responsible for her original decision to support Mamdani.
“I supported him because I believed what he was saying,” Streisand said. “That’s on me. I should have looked more closely at what all of this could mean.”
Her comments are likely to add fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding New York City’s tax policies and whether wealthy residents will reconsider their decision to remain in the city.
Streisand said she understands that government needs revenue and that New York has serious problems that require solutions. But she argued that repeatedly increasing the financial burden on residents can eventually change their decisions about where they want to live.
“There comes a point where you have to ask yourself whether staying is worth it,” she said. “I’ve reached that point.”
California will now become Streisand’s new home, with her New York properties placed on the market.
“I’m not leaving because I hate New York,” Streisand said. “I’m leaving because I don’t like where I think it’s going.”
Before walking away from reporters, she offered one final reflection on her support for Mamdani.
“Supporting him was the biggest mistake of my life,” she said. “I won’t make that mistake twice.”
