Today at 1 p.m. members of Occupy Wall Street, joined by community groups and labor unions, will march on the Upper East Side homes of prominent New York City billionaires.
Who’s on their list? Rupert Murdoch, conservative businessman David Koch, Paul Milstein, John Paulson and Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.
The one person who, surprisingly, didn’t make the list is Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose net worth is valued at $19.5 billion. Perhaps that’s because Bloomberg said yesterday protesters are welcome to stay in the city as long as they don’t break any laws.
The protesters are marching to demand Albany politicians renew the controversial millionaire tax – a 2 percent tax on the richest New Yorkers that will bring in an estimated $5 billion in revenue. The state tax expires in December
It is unclear where Gov. Andrew Cuomo stands on the millionaire tax. He said he supports the tax, proposed by President Barack Obama, but earlier this year he rejected a similar income tax on the mega-rich that was proposed by fellow Democrats in the state Assembly. Cuomo has said he fears that taxing the super-rich too much will make them leave the state.
The march begins at 1 p.m. at 59th St. and 5th Avenue and will end at 93rd Street. Protesters reportedly do not have a permit for the march, so it is unclear how police will respond.
Metro is at the march, so stay tuned for updates.
