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Michael Goodwin: All is fair in love and war in the realtionship between Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Hochul

And just like that, the honeymoon is over. 

Gov. Hochul believed she was on the cusp of a beautiful relationship with Mayor Mamdani — until he rudely reminded her that the socialist agenda remains his one true love. 

His “Dear Kathy” letter came wrapped in a public ultimatum.

Because of a deficit he inherited and his extravagant spending plans, he suddenly needed her help getting billions of dollars. 

He told her he would be forced to raise city property taxes by a whopping 10% unless she helped him impose big tax hikes on high-income city residents and corporations. 

The choice is up to her.

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How generous of him! 

By putting her in a box, Mamdani turned Hochul into his hostage — just as she was moving into her own campaign for re-election. 

No matter which option she chooses, the governor’s supposed City Hall pal has given voters a “taxing” reason to replace her with a Republican in November. 

Even allowing for the fact that politics can be a dirty game, Mamdani’s move stands out because Hochul had endorsed him in last year’s primary and already started showering him with $2 billion of state money to spend on his pet projects. 

Instead of gratitude, all she got in return was a choice between politically toxic options.

While Mamdani is safe from voters’ wrath for four years, Hochul suddenly appears much more politically vulnerable than she was just a month ago. 

A Siena University survey taken in January showed her with a 49%-40% favorability rating among state voters, her........

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