De Blasio Proposes Tax on Wealthy to Fix New York City’s Crumbling Subways

  • Mayor’s idea received immediate rejection from MTA’s chairman
  • Previous wealth-tax proposals by Democratic mayor have failed

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks on March 27, 2017.

Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat seeking re-election this year, proposed a tax on the wealthy to pay for repairs to the city’s deteriorating subway system.

The plan would increase the city’s highest income-tax rate to 4.41 percent from 3.88 percent on earnings above $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for couples. The move would affect about 32,000 people and raise as much as $800 million a year, de Blasio said Monday.