Could “Cats” be changing his stripes?
Influential billionaire GOP donor John Catsimatidis — a fierce critic of socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani — now says he wants New York conservatives to work with the incoming administration to ensure the Big Apple’s success.
The grocery store magnate hosted a round-table style panel at his WABC radio studio on Monday with right-leaning bigwigs like former NYPD Chief of Department John Chell and one-time Republican mayoral candidate Fernando Mateo.
“The one thing that we all hold in common is that we all love New York… and we want New York to thrive like it always has,” the Gristedes supermarket owner said during the unusual press conference.
The bizarre event was originally billed as the rollout of a new “watchdog group” to monitor Mamdani, but Catsimatidis backpedaled on that verbiage at showtime.
Instead of acting as an oversight group eyeing the new City Hall administration, the group of politicos and business leaders said they would work to reconcile how to deal with the incoming lefty leader despite their differences.
“We have to keep working, we have to be funded, and we have to protect this city, because without public safety, we don’t have any of this,” warned Chell.
Power-broker Kathryn Wylde, CEO and president of Partnership for New York City, a business lobbying nonprofit, was the most optimistic of the bunch.
“We’re excited about the affordability agenda. I think particularly with regard to housing and childcare,” she said.
Wylde has notably been warmer than some of her colleagues to Mamdani as he’s sought to make inroads with the business community – but she has remained wary about his proposals to increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
“I think all of us recognize that additional government spending and raising taxes just increases unaffordability in New York,” she said, emphasizing that the business class was open to exploring other avenues to fund the democratic socialist’s lofty agenda.
Mamdani — who confirmed Monday his plans to meet with President Trump — responded to reporters’ questions about the panel at an unrelated press conference.
“I’ve spoken with John in the past. I look forward to seeing him in ‘Marty Supreme,’” he said, referring to Catsimatidis’ cameo in the upcoming Josh Safdie film.
“And I look forward to putting together an administration that will deliver on the needs of every single person that makes the city their home.”
Mamdani’s team also heralded the small olive branch as a marked achievement.
“The mayor-elect has not taken office, and he is already winning over his staunchest critics,” said mayoral transition spokesperson Dora Pekec.
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