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There he Zos again.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani again stoked fears he’s fostering an anti-business blitz in New York City after he tried pressure state regulators to block a $500 million merger deal.

Hizzoner sent a blistering letter to the New York State Department of Financial Services last month urging officials to block money transfer service Western Union’s bid to buy Intermex — a financial services company that focuses on helping transfers to Latin America.


  Mayor Mamdani is trying to pressure state regulators to block a $500 million merger deal in his latest anti-business blitz, according to a new report. J.C. Rice for NY Post Mayor Mamdani is trying to pressure state regulators to block a $500 million merger deal in his latest anti-business blitz, according to a new report. J.C. Rice for NY Post

Hizzoner was one of only two people to submit comments to the DFS during the public comment period, which opened April 10 and is now closed.

The merger would hurt New York City’s immigrant families who use the companies to send money – or remittances – back to their home countries, Mamdani’s letter argued.

“In short, the merger would eliminate the head-to-head competition between Western Union and Intermex,” the letter states. 

“The likely result: higher prices and fees for immigrant families across New York City sending part of their paychecks home to support their loved ones, with less incentive to provide transparency and important consumer protections.”

Mamdani butting in arguably serves as the latest example of the mayor’s attempt to flex his socialist bona fides in what critics say is pushing ideology over running the day-to-day operations of the city, with potentially disastrous results for the local economy.


  The Post’s cover on Mamdani’s efforts to launch city-run grocery stores.
 The Post’s cover on Mamdani’s efforts to launch city-run grocery stores.

Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin last week said he’s adding more jobs in Miami over New York City as a “direct consequence” of Mamdani using his $238 billion as a backdrop to drum up support for a proposed tax on luxury second homes in the city.

The reprisal stokes fears that Mamdani’s “tax the rich” antics will spark an exodus of bigwigs and their businesses.

“The people he says he is helping—those who suffer most from rising prices, and affordability issues—will be hurt the worst by the mayor’s behavior,” veteran Democrat strategist Hank Sheinkopf said. “The rich leave, jobs leave. Middle income New Yorkers leave, jobs leave. And tax dollars go with them.”

The mayor’s push against the Western Union-Intermex merger echoes the antitrust stances of monopoly-fighting Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, a lefty darling who served on Mamdani’s transition team.


  Former FTC Chair Lina Khan speaking at a Mamdani campaign rally on Oct. 13, 2025. Paul Martinka Former FTC Chair Lina Khan speaking at a Mamdani campaign rally on Oct. 13, 2025. Paul Martinka

But it also seeks to address concerns of many immigrant New Yorkers who are a vital constituency for Mamdani.

Remittances from the United States totaled at least $93 billion in 2024, according to the Niskanen Center.

Mamdani’s letter points out that President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” added a 1% tax on cash remittances. It also contends that Intermex has steadily won customers from Western Union, traditionally the market leader in remittances sent from the US to Latin America.

“By eliminating competition between Western Union and Intermex, the deal could lead to higher fees (including those the businesses may fail to disclose), disadvantageous rates, worse terms, poorer service, and other impacts to these communities,” the letter argues. “In short, it would represent a direct wealth transfer—one that would further strain the already challenging economic circumstances facing New York City’s immigrant communities.”

The letter – which was first reported by Semafor – contended that the merger appeared to violate antitrust laws.

A Western Union spokesperson said the company is confident the merger will meet all regulatory requirements.

“The proposed transaction is pro-competitive and will protect retail and digital access for New York’s immigrant communities, especially those who are unbanked or underbanked and rely on in-person services to support their families,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“Blocking it could put nearly 600 New York City jobs at risk along with many small, immigrant-owned retail businesses that offer Western Union and Intermex retail remittance services.”

A rep for the mayor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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