Florida Chamber of Commerce paid for Times Square billboard with dig at Mamdani

Claim:

In August 2026, the Florida Chamber of Commerce funded a Times Square advertisement that playfully dubbed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as Florida’s “Economic Developer of the Year.”

Rating:

Social media users across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X shared photos in August 2026 of a striking Times Square billboard sponsored by the Florida Chamber of Commerce directed at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The display featured the text: “Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Florida Economic Developer of the year.”

The stunt was widely interpreted as a jab at Mamdani’s administration, suggesting that businesses are fleeing New York for Florida because of his leadership. The viral images prompted numerous inquiries from readers seeking verification.

Because the Florida Chamber of Commerce officially verified that it paid for the real-life billboard, the claim has been rated true.

A smaller disclaimer on the advertisement clarified, “*Paid for by the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Not authorized, approved, or endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mandani.” Furthermore, the organization published a note on its website stating: 

Thanks for the Jobs.

The billboard is bold. The message behind it is even bigger.

Every time a family or business relocates, a new company is born, or a professional chooses Florida over a higher-tax state, Florida grows stronger.

That is why the Florida Chamber decided to honor the architect of New York’s current policies as “Florida Economic Developer of the Year.”

The takeaway is straightforward: when local policies make commerce difficult, investments and jobs simply migrate elsewhere—frequently finding a home in Florida.

In a Fox News interview, chamber CEO Mark Wilson remarked, “Even though Florida’s winning right now, we’re not looking for New York to lose. We’re hoping that these other states will say ‘no’ to this move toward socialism and say ‘yes’ to the very policies that our country was founded on.”

While representatives for Mamdani did not immediately issue a direct response to inquiries, a mayoral spokesperson told the New York Post, “By any metric, New York City’s economy under Mayor Mamdani is as strong as it’s ever been. We look forward to continuing to grow the economy while ensuring that working-class New Yorkers are benefiting from that growth.”

In its promotional materials, the chamber cited statistics comparing economic growth metrics between Florida and New York. However, some of these figures preceded Mamdani’s time in office. For instance, data tables pointed to 503 business relocations to Florida versus 278 departures from New York, relying on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. Those specific BLS figures stemmed from 2023, during former Mayor Eric Adams’ tenure, well before Mamdani assumed office in January 2026. (Mamdani’s mayoral authority also applies strictly to NYC, rather than the entire state of New York.)

The campaign, designed to highlight a contrast between Florida’s free-market approach and Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform, was scheduled to air for 20 hours daily, according to the Palm Beach Daily News. Industry estimates from AdFocus suggest that shared 15-second digital loops in Times Square can range up to $3,000 per day, though the exact cost absorbed by the Florida Chamber remains undisclosed.

Ultimately, the viral billboard is authentic, backed by official statements and promotional releases from the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

For additional context on related viral rumors regarding the mayor, check out previous investigations looking into claims that he sought a 20% salary increase or orchestrated a hike in city transit fares to $3.

Sources