With a triumphant Zohran Mamdani taking over as New York City mayor Jan. 1, many of my patients tell me they finally feel “seen” in their resentment toward the wealthy.

The anger feels righteous and moral.

But it’s rarely about tax policy, wages or housing. It’s merely emotional.

It’s about envy, inadequacy and the relief that comes from blaming someone else rather than looking inward.

Mamdani declared during the campaign, “I don’t think that we should have billionaires,” and he’s chosen Sen. Bernie Sanders, who regularly rages about them, to administer the public oath of office at City Hall.

In my therapy practice, I hear what plays out in the streets.

Resentment of the wealthy has become emotional currency. It gives temporary relief from feelings people don’t want to confront.

Hating billionaires feels noble, but psychologically it functions as a shortcut to moral superiority. It lets people feel right without having to reflect or change.

What’s striking is how personal this resentment often is. Patients talk about how unfair life feels, how stuck they feel, how others seem to be moving ahead while they are standing still. Instead of grappling with disappointment, doubt or stalled ambition, anger offers a cleaner outlet.

It converts private frustration into public virtue. This is projection.

The wealthy become symbols. They represent ambition,........

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