Mayor Zohran Mamdani's recent tax proposal on luxury properties valued over $5 million has sparked a significant clash with hedge fund Citadel, founded by billionaire Ken Griffin. Griffin criticized Mamdani's announcement, claiming it was a personal attack, which has led Citadel to threaten a halt on its ambitious $6 billion office project at 350 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. This project is crucial for the local economy, promising to create 6,000 construction jobs and support over 15,000 permanent jobs. Local food vendors, who have suffered from decreased foot traffic since the COVID-19 pandemic, expressed concern that the cancellation of the project would further harm their already dwindling businesses. Vendors like Maria, who operates the Eggstravaganza food truck, noted that the influx of people from such developments is vital for their survival. If Citadel follows through on its threat, the impact could be detrimental, as many vendors rely on the traffic generated by nearby businesses. Despite the tension, Mamdani acknowledged Griffin's contributions to community initiatives, hinting at a potential softening of their public feud.