New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appoints a radical DSA activist who equates American homeownership with white supremacy, drawing fierce condemnation from former Mayor Eric Adams as “out of your mind.”
Story Highlights
- Mamdani names Cea Weaver, a Democratic Socialists of America member, to lead the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants on January 1, 2026.
- Weaver’s past statements label private property and gentrification as tools of “centuries-long white supremacy,” prompting Adams’ public rebuke.
- Weaver advocated rent strikes, opposed real estate profits, and proposed schools as “networks of defense” against federal ICE enforcement.
- Backlash erupts as Weaver deletes her X account amid resurfaced posts, highlighting socialist threats to property rights.
Mamdani’s Controversial Appointment
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialists of America member, appointed Cea Weaver as director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants on January 1, 2026. Weaver, an urban planner and former Housing Justice for All coordinator, steps into the role amid NYC’s severe housing crisis, including 1% vacancy rates and over 100,000 shelter users. Mamdani pledged 200,000 affordable units during his 2025 campaign. This move aims to reinvigorate tenant protections but ignites debate over her radical history.
Weaver’s Radical Views on Property Rights
Cea Weaver frames homeownership and private property as instruments of white supremacy, a stance that undermines core American values of individual liberty and hard-earned ownership. She helped pass the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, strengthening eviction rules and rent regulations. During COVID-19, Weaver pushed rent strikes and opposed real estate profits, prioritizing community rights over market incentives. Her rhetoric echoes DSA goals that conservatives view as assaults on free enterprise.
Eric Adams Fires Back
Former Mayor Eric Adams condemned Weaver directly, stating she is “out of your mind” for linking homeownership to white supremacy. Adams, who defended traditional property norms during his tenure, highlights the absurdity of such views in a city where families strive for the American dream. This rebuke amplifies public outrage as Weaver’s past posts resurface, including calls to use public schools and PTAs as resistance sites against federal authorities like ICE. Social media dubs the appointment “complete communism.”
Weaver withdrew a 2021 City Planning Commission nomination due to real estate opposition, yet Mamdani proceeds despite the risks. Her model draws from Chicago Teachers’ Union tactics, labeled rooted in division. Conservatives see this as eroding family stability through government overreach and anti-property ideology.
Backlash and Broader Implications
By January 6, 2026, backlash peaks online after Weaver deletes her X account. Mamdani defends her tenant record, claiming she will hold unsafe conditions accountable. Yet critics, including debate rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, argue rent freezes fail and supply must increase. This polarizes NYC politics, pitting tenants against developers and moderates against DSA radicals. Long-term, intensified regulations threaten housing markets already strained by low vacancies and homelessness, alienating homeowners who built wealth through ownership.
'Out of Your Mind': Adams Condemns Mamdani's Housing Pick for Linking Homeownership to White Supremacy https://t.co/mTZre1JiDy
— Twitchy Updates (@Twitchy_Updates) January 7, 2026
The appointment tests Mamdani’s administration early, potentially advancing socialist reforms but inviting labels of extremism. Real estate interests oppose vacancy taxes, while tenant groups gain leverage. In a nation prioritizing property rights under President Trump’s pro-freedom policies, NYC’s leftward lurch serves as a warning against woke assaults on conservative values like self-reliance and family prosperity.
Sources:
Campaign 2026: New York City Mayoral Debate (C-SPAN)
‘Out of Your Mind’: Adams Condemns Mamdani’s Housing Pick (Twitchy)
