Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, praised Governor Bill Lee’s invitation for New York City businesses to relocate to the Volunteer State, calling it a clever and timely response to New York City’s embrace of “an actual communist” in Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
One day after self-described Democratic Socialist Mamdani won the general election for New York City mayor, Lee released a now-viral video on social media inviting businesses that are considering leaving the nation’s largest city in wake of the mayoral election to relocate to Tennessee.
Pappert, on Thursday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, agreed that the governor’s invite to New York City businesses is likely to appeal to many companies disillusioned with the city’s new political and economic direction under Mamdani.
He joked that some business owners might be “throwing darts anywhere but New York” when considering relocation options.
“I think some businesses might be to the point of throwing darts anywhere but New York at this point. For some of them, it’s going to play rather well. Now, of course, there’s others that are going to go down ship,” Pappert said.
At the same time, Pappert acknowledged that some Tennesseans might be wary of an influx of outsiders, preferring to “keep Tennessee a secret” and send fleeing New Yorkers elsewhere, like Florida.
Pappert went on to emphasize that Lee’s message was not about offering tax incentives or financial perks to businesses in New York City. Instead, Pappert said Lee was highlighting Tennessee’s already favorable business climate with regard to low taxes, limited government interference, and a strong workforce.
“Lee is simply saying to the millions of New York business owners, Tennessee is open for business. We’d love to have you come here. He’s not pulling out the checkbook and bringing the general assembly together and getting Cam Sexton and saying, all right, let’s give the tax breaks to the New York liberal company,” he said.
While he interpreted Lee’s tone as partly tongue-in-cheek, Pappert went on to predict that Tennessee’s appeal would only grow in contrast to New York City’s new leadership and economic policies.
“I think the governor was actually having a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun after New York elected an actual communist. I think that Tennessee is going to really shine brightly over the next few years as a result of this,” Pappert said.
Mamdani has promised to pay for his socialist-driven agenda by raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent and imposing a flat 2 percent tax on New Yorkers who earn more than $1 million annually.
Further, Mamdani has promised to raise the city’s minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030.
On the question of how many New York businesses might actually leave, Pappert cited reports suggesting a possible “mass exodus” of up to one million individuals if Mamdani won, noting that some city officials had already resigned after the election.
He estimated that upwards of 15 percent of New York City businesses might either shut down or relocate, and he expected Tennessee to be one of the top destinations alongside Texas and Florida.
“I think you’re going to see at least 10 to 15 percent of businesses in that city either just close up shop and go on welfare or flee the city,” Pappert said.
Watch:
Tune in now to The Michael Patrick Leahy Show – your AMERICA FIRST news talk!
– Watch LIVE here on X
– Watch LIVE on Roku
– Listen on Spotify
– Listen on WENO AM760 in Nashville
– Read more at @TheTNStarhttps://t.co/Jb619ZkcZY— MichaelPatrick Leahy (@michaelpleahy) November 6, 2025
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
