​‘White people will have a different relationship to property’: Zohran Mamdani's tenant director faces backlash over ownership rights

Comments made by Cea Weaver, the newly appointed director of New York City’s Office to Protect Tenants, have drawn criticism after a video clip resurfaced in which she discussed changes to property ownership under shared equity housing models. The clip began circulating widely on social media following her appointment by Mayor Zohran Mamdani earlier this month.In the video, Weaver speaks about moving away from treating property as an individual asset toward collective ownership structures. During that discussion, she says such a shift would mean “families, especially White families,” would have a different relationship to property than they do now. The remarks were made before her appointment but have been widely shared in recent days, prompting debate and backlash online.The resurfaced clip has also led to renewed attention on Weaver’s past public statements and social media posts, some of which expressed opposition to private property and homeownership. Those posts, which date back several years, have since been deleted but were recirculated by critics after her appointment.Weaver previously worked with Housing Justice for All, a tenant advocacy coalition involved in campaigns for stronger rent regulation and tenant protections. As director of the Office to Protect Tenants, her role includes overseeing tenant education, enforcement of housing standards and coordination with other city agencies on housing issues.City Hall has not publicly commented on the specific remarks highlighted in the clip. Mayor Mamdani has said his administration will prioritise tenant protections and affordability measures, including proposals affecting rent-regulated apartments that would require approval from the city’s Rent Guidelines Board.The controversy comes as New York City continues to face high housing costs and competing views over ownership, affordability and regulation.