Leftist pundits love to blame President Trump for price increases, despite inflation reaching once-in-a-generation highs under Joe Biden.
But even the bumps consumers are contending with now are clearly being exacerbated by leftist policies, not the free-market principles that bolster America’s conservative movement.
In New York, where the state’s most populous city recently elected a self-avowed socialist as mayor, one new policy in particular is set to give California a run for its money when it comes to making life unaffordable for ordinary citizens.
The New York Post provided this report:
The proposed Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would require companies with net income exceeding $5 million to reduce and phase out toxic or non-reusable packaging, replacing it with reusable and environmentally friendly alternatives.
Manufacturers would be required to reduce their non-green packaging by 10% within 3 years and by 30% within 12 years.
Meanwhile, at least 25% of packaging would have to be recyclable by 2032, with increases to
50% and 75% by 2040 and 2055, respectively.While the bill is ostensibly good for the environment, critics say the changes could translate to higher costs for consumers.
“For independent supermarkets serving New York City’s working-class and minority communities, even modest shifts in packaging policy can quickly translate into higher costs for families,” said Nelson Eusebio, the National Supermarkets Association’s director of government affairs.
“When changes move forward without scalable, commercially viable alternatives, those costs ripple through the supply chain and affect prices at the register,” he added.
Others are concerned that reducing certain packaging could compromise the products themselves.
“It will eliminate the plastic film packaging that keeps essential products like toilet paper, paper towels, and diapers dry and sanitary,” said Dan Felton, president and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association
“Without it, retailers and consumers face increased product damage, higher replacement costs, and less reliable shelf availability.”
The added costs associated with this big-government power grab would likely be seen as a slap in the face to hard-working New Yorkers already disillusioned by the Empire State’s trajectory:
Kathy Hochul is bankrupting our state and making New York MORE unaffordable for hardworking families.
I will put New York on a fiscally responsible path and make our state affordable. pic.twitter.com/VmaRK1kYEe
— Bruce Blakeman (@NassauExec) May 6, 2026
NYC has a problem.
At some point, residents stop feeling like citizens and start feeling like the revenue model.
Higher taxes. Higher fees. Higher rent. Worse services.
The city keeps asking people to pay more for the privilege of being squeezed.
That is not a fiscal…
— Jim Osman (@EdgeCGroup) May 6, 2026
Vast majority of NYC voters think ‘everything seems to be in the dumper’ when it comes to affordability and other key issues, new poll finds https://t.co/H83VVOwLTx pic.twitter.com/EnQVw9sf6n
— amNewYork™ (@amNewYork) May 6, 2026
Given the current situation, only the wealthiest of Americans can afford to live comfortably in many areas of the state.
Perhaps that’s why, as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani fuels a “tax the rich” movement in the Big Apple, Gov. Kathy Hochul is pleading with wealthy former New Yorkers to return to the state.
Here’s what Moneywise reported a little over a month ago:
“What I want to make sure we are smart about is having a system in place where it’s not just taxing for the sake of taxing and being conscious of the fact that I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state,” she said.
At the same time, she pointed to signs that New York’s tax base has weakened as some affluent residents have relocated — particularly to low-tax states like Florida.
“Our tax base has been eroded,” Hochul said, suggesting that those looking to help should “go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring back home.”
She also acknowledged the competitive pressure New York faces from other states with lighter tax burdens.
“We are in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden on their corporations and their individuals,” she said, adding that the rise of remote work has made it easier for people and businesses to leave.
And here’s some recent commentary from Sky News on how Mamdani’s influence on New York City is already making things more unaffordable to its millions of residents:
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!