New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after touting the city's new tax on wealthy second-home owners while the city was responding to the stabbings of two Upper West Side men by a man who allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar."

Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, drew criticism for a message Thursday on X about the city's new pied-a-terre tax, posted two hours before he addressed the stabbings of two men, one Asian and one Jewish, on the Upper West Side.

"If you have a second home in New York City worth more than $5M, check your mailbox when you're back in the five boroughs — because you've got mail," Mamdani wrote. "Today, we sent notification letters to property owners, letting them know that our new ... tax is coming soon.

"The best city in the world deserves the best parks, libraries, and schools in the world. That's only possible when we all pay our fair share."

His post, made at 3:55 p.m. Eastern time, came nearly 2½ hours after the stabbings of Chok Sung, 57, near West 84th Street and Central Park West, and Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, just blocks away on Amsterdam Avenue and West 86th Street.

Sung was stabbed in the back with a knife at about 1:30 p.m., the New York Post reported, and Grunhaus, who was wearing a yarmulke, was stabbed in the torso with a screwdriver after leaving a synagogue.

Raul Morales, 51, who was arrested in connection with the stabbings, allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") as he attacked the men. As of Friday morning, he had not been charged.

At 6:30 p.m., Mamdani addressed the attacks on X.

"I have been briefed on today's horrifying stabbings on the Upper West Side, where an Asian man and a Jewish man were attacked," Mamdani wrote. "According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks. I am relieved that both victims are in stable condition.

"The NYPD responded immediately and arrested Raul Morales in connection with both assaults — and I am grateful to the officers for their swift response. The NYPD's initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor. They are also evaluating these stabbings as potential hate crimes. These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city."

The stabbings came just days after Mamdani said the city lacked the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on an International Criminal Court arrest warrant should he visit the city. Mamdani nonetheless called Netanyahu a war criminal, accusing him of committing what he described as genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The UJA-Federation of New York said in a statement Thursday on X that Mamdani's rhetoric was contributing to a dangerous climate in the city. UJA stands for United Jewish Appeal.

"Words have consequences. Particularly, words from the Mayor of New York City," the group said. "These attacks came soon after Mayor Mamdani once again used his official platform to viciously attack Israel, the only Jewish state. We cannot ignore the dangerous climate created when elected leaders relentlessly portray Israel — and, by extension, the many Jewish New Yorkers who feel a deep connection to it — as uniquely evil and illegitimate.

"At a time of rising tension and polarization, our city needs a mayor who rejects the dehumanization of every community, lowers the temperature, and brings us together. Jewish New Yorkers — all New Yorkers — deserve nothing less."

Mamdani addressed the criticism Friday, WABC-TV reported.

"I want to make very clear that my criticisms of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are of specifically Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and any criticisms of any foreign state should never be confused for criticisms of a people or of a faith," Mamdani said. "And my responsibility as the mayor of this city is to every New Yorker no matter their faith, their background, and frankly their politics, whether or not they agree with me on any of these assessments."