NYC Dem: Mamdani aide’s radical views prevented her appointment to city commission
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A few years before Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Cea Weaver to run the Office of Tenant Protection, Democratic Councilman Kalman Yeger said the NYC Council signaled it would not approve him for an effective city planning commission because he was too radical.
Mamdani did not withdraw Weaver’s appointment due to some of the concerns council members had in 2021; these included resurgent comments characterizing homeownership as a “weapon of white supremacy” and arguments that property should be treated as a “collective good.”
Amid the controversy surrounding Weaver, Yeger said, “I think it’s easier to appoint a communist to a position that doesn’t require confirmation.” “Four years ago, his name was submitted to the City Planning Commission for City Council approval. Enough people made it clear that we would not approve his candidacy, forcing him to withdraw his candidacy.”
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The New York Democrat noted in an interview with Fox News Digital that Weaver’s appointment to the city’s planning commission, made by the New York City Public Advocate, would generally not be controversial, but in light of Weaver’s past comments between 2017 and 2021, which were made much more recently at the time, the city council pressured the Public Advocate to withdraw her nomination, which Weaver claimed she had withdrawn herself.
Recalling the discontent that led to the withdrawal of Weaver’s candidacy, Yeger told Fox News Digital: “We learned a little bit more about this person, and from my perspective, I think those were more out there comments that were not just a political philosophy, but also things that were said verbatim.” “Things like homeownership are white supremacy — I think it’s ridiculous, and frankly, I think it would be surprising for many of my Black, Latinx, and Caribbean-American constituents who have struggled their entire lives to buy a piece of New York and raise middle-class families in my community to learn that by doing so, they are contributing to white supremacy.”
Cea Weaver, Mamdani’s tenant manager, called for “electing more communists” in a tweet shared since the X account was deleted. (Fox News)
Yeger said he couldn’t remember exactly how many council members opposed Weaver’s candidacy, but noted it was “a significant number of members of the council.” He added that some people on the council were simply not interested in his comments. Yeger also said he is concerned about far-left organizations, some of which he has worked with in the past.
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Amid controversy over her comments, Weaver said she regretted “some” of her past comments but did not specify which ones.
Weaver, a longtime housing activist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), was asked about reactions, including from former Democratic NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who called her an “outsider.” [her] “damn,” he wrote in Spectrum News NY1.
“I don’t think I’ve lost my mind” Weaver replied. “Some of these are definitely not things I would say today, and I regret it.”
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, center, with members of the transition team (from left), transition manager Elana Leopold, transition co-chair Melanie Hartzog, transition co-chair Maria Torres-Springer, transition co-chair Grace Bonilla and transition co-chair Lina Khan speak with members of the media at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens on Wednesday, Nov. 2. 5, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Although he did not specify which statements he regretted, Weaver said he aims to combat “racial inequities” while serving New Yorkers.
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“But, you know, I think my decades of experience fighting for more affordable housing stands alone,” Weaver said. “I’m proud to be in this role fighting for stronger tenants’ rights. And I think for too many years people have been excluded from the housing market, which has led to systemic and racial inequities in our system.”
“I want to make sure everyone has a safe and affordable place to live — whether they rent or own,” he added. “And that’s something I’m focusing on in this new role.”
Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo and Alexander Hall contributed to this report.
