The Florida Chamber of Commerce, the state's largest private business federation, made a bold move on Monday by installing a prominent digital billboard right in the heart of Times Square. This eye-catching message declared New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani as Florida's "Economic Developer of the Year," with the cheeky tagline: "Thanks for the Jobs!"
Located at the bustling intersection of Broadway and West 43rd Street in Manhattan, one of the world's busiest crossroads, this digital sign is part of the Chamber's "Free Enterprise Florida" campaign.
Founded in 1912, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is a completely private entity, funded solely by business memberships, donations, and events, without any public or state government funding.
Mark Wilson, the Chamber's President and CEO, candidly explained the motive behind the campaign: "We wanted to thank him for the jobs, businesses, and people being pushed out of New York, many of whom are relocating to Florida."
Wilson emphasized that the campaign is not intended as an attack on New York but rather as a defense of the free enterprise model against what he labeled as the encroachment of socialism.
"While Florida is currently thriving, we don't want New York to fail. We hope other states will reject this move towards socialism and embrace the policies that founded this nation," he stated.
Wilson also clarified that the initiative is not a mere state rivalry: "It's not about scoring points or keeping a tally between Florida and New York. It's truly about trying to save our country from this madness."
This backdrop is set against a sustained migration trend from New York to the South, which surged during the pandemic and continues into 2026, with Mamdani at the helm of New York's City Hall.
Wilson warned that Mamdani's policy logic is counterproductive: "What do people like Mayor Mamdani do? They want to raise taxes on those who stay, which only accelerates the exodus from places like New York."
In contrast, Wilson highlighted that Florida has reduced taxes over 50 times in the past 15 years, resulting in record tax revenue.
Mamdani's office dismissed the criticism and defended the robust local economy. "By any metric, New York's economy under Mayor Mamdani is as strong as it's ever been," a spokesperson countered, citing the creation of over 21,700 jobs in six months, a Manhattan office market on track for its best year since 2000, and more than $21 billion in venture capital raised so far in 2026, a 102% increase from the previous year.
Understanding the Economic Dynamics Between Florida and New York
Why did the Florida Chamber of Commerce target Mayor Mamdani in their campaign?
The campaign aimed to highlight the migration of jobs and people from New York to Florida, which the Chamber attributes to policies under Mayor Mamdani that they view as promoting socialism.
How has Florida's tax policy differed from New York's according to the Chamber?
The Chamber notes that Florida has significantly reduced taxes over the past 15 years, whereas they claim New York, under Mamdani's leadership, is raising taxes, which they argue drives people away.