Florida Chamber Takes Aim at NYC: Times Square Billboard Declares Mamdani "Economic Developer of the Year"
NEW YORK, NY – In a striking display of inter-state economic rivalry, the Florida Chamber of Commerce has launched a provocative campaign in the heart of Times Square, directly challenging New York City’s economic policies and crediting its leadership for Florida’s burgeoning prosperity. A massive new digital billboard at the iconic intersection of Broadway and West 43rd Street delivers a pointed message: "Thanks for the jobs!"
This bold initiative names New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as Florida’s "Economic Developer of the Year," a title bestowed with clear irony. According to the Florida Chamber, this unconventional "award" serves as a stark reminder of how progressive taxation and what it terms "socialist policies" in New York are inadvertently fueling a significant migration of wealth, businesses, and families to the Sunshine State.
Mark Wilson, CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, articulated the intention behind the campaign in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. "We wanted to thank him for the jobs, the companies, the people that they’re pushing out of New York — and a lot of them are coming to Florida," Wilson stated on Monday.
Wilson emphasized that the campaign extends beyond state lines, positioning it within a larger national debate concerning economic ideologies. "America is at a crossroads right now. I think everyone that’s paying attention knows that our country was built on freedom and free enterprise and people having the liberty to make their dreams come true," he said. "And there’s a push in our country right now to take those liberties away and to attack free enterprise. And that’s never worked anywhere, and it won’t work in America."
The Chamber, representing Florida’s formidable $1.8 trillion economy, asserts that Mayor Mamdani’s approach is "dangerous for the country" and "harmful for New York," advocating instead for a renewed focus on free enterprise principles. Wilson added, "We can choose free enterprise, which is what America was built on, or we can choose to destroy that, which is what the social[ist] policies do… And so, what we’re hoping happens from this campaign is that we refocus America on free enterprise."
The campaign highlights compelling economic data to support its claims. Citing IRS migration figures, the Florida Chamber reports that Florida gains approximately $2.4 million in net taxable income every hour, while New York simultaneously loses an estimated $1.1 million per hour. Furthermore, Florida sees a net influx of 551 residents daily, contrasting sharply with New York’s daily loss of 115 residents.
These statistics, according to the Chamber, underscore the argument that lower tax rates in Florida foster growth and increased revenues, whereas "blue-state tax hikes" in places like New York trigger a significant "tax-based exodus." The Chamber’s press release also points out that New York’s state budget is more than double Florida’s, and New York City’s municipal budget alone surpasses Florida’s entire state budget by over $8 billion.
"What do people like Mayor Mamdani do? They want to then increase taxes on the people who are left, which just further accelerates people leaving places like New York," Wilson explained. He contrasted this with Florida’s approach: "Florida’s lowered taxes over 50 times in the last 15 years. And we have record revenues coming in because people want to be here. And when the economy grows, tax revenues grow. That’s how free enterprise works."
Wilson framed the campaign as an opportunity for national reflection. "The socialist agenda sounds crazy because it is crazy, right? ‘Free Enterprise Florida’ is a way to highlight what happens in states like Florida — when we focus on less tax, less government, more freedom, more liberty — and what happens in places like New York when they increase taxes and regulation," he elaborated. "So this is an opportunity for people in New York and people across the country to say, ‘Hey, we have a choice to make here.’"
Despite the provocative nature of the billboard, Wilson asserted that Florida is not seeking to undermine New York but rather to promote successful economic models. "Even though Florida is winning right now, we’re not looking for New York to lose. We’re hoping that these other states will say ‘no’ to this move towards socialism and say ‘yes’ to the very policies that our country was founded on," he clarified. "This isn’t about spiking a football or looking at the scoreboard about Florida versus New York. This is really about trying to save our country from crazy."
In response, a City Hall spokesperson provided a statement to Fox News Digital, asserting, "By any metric, New York City’s economy under Mayor Mamdani is as strong as it’s ever been. We look forward to continuing to grow the economy while ensuring that working-class New Yorkers are benefiting from that growth."
Wilson indicated that the "Free Enterprise Florida" campaign intends to expand its reach beyond Manhattan, targeting other major U.S. cities. "We had to start in New York City because the mayor of New York City, obviously, is pushing that community into a direction that it’s not good for the people who live there," he said. "But there’s several runner-ups for this. When you look at Chicago, when you look at California, Minneapolis, there’s places all over the country that come in a close second to the movement in New York City. So we’re gonna continue to highlight what works."
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The Florida Chamber’s campaign underscores a growing ideological divide on economic policy within the United States, advocating for free-market principles as the path to boost overall U.S. GDP growth. "Our country is celebrating 250 years this year, and it has a lot to do with our freedom, our faith and our free enterprise," Wilson concluded. "And I think if we can focus on free enterprise for the next few years and make that what we base our decisions on, then this country can grow at 3% GDP, and we’ll once again get back on the track that we need to be."
