New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing scrutiny for awarding housing contracts to a developer, Spatial Equity, that is currently seeking to evict at least eight residents from an affordable housing complex, despite the mayor's stated commitment to keeping tenants in their homes.
Spatial Equity, a Manhattan-based firm led by Teghvir Sethi, is moving to evict eight individuals from the 123-unit Shepherd Glenmore affordable housing complex in Cypress Hills. Court filings indicate the evictions are due to non-payment of rent. The building, completed in July 2025, is reportedly Spatial Equity's only property with existing tenants as the company seeks to expand its portfolio.
Mamdani has supported Sethi's bid to take over a 38-building, 887-unit distressed property in East Harlem. Additionally, the city's Department of Housing Preservation has selected Spatial Equity to co-develop "The Aurea," a 131-unit affordable housing complex on the Lower East Side on a site previously used as an NYPD parking lot.
These actions appear to contradict Mamdani's public statements, including his May announcement of the "Block by Block" housing plan, where he stated, "We can keep people in their homes, and we can build the homes that they need to live in." Mamdani's housing adviser, Cea Weaver, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, has previously advocated for the abolition of evictions.
NYC Councilman Phil Wong has criticized Mamdani's approach, stating, "Mamdani has spent years attacking landlords and promising tenants more protections… you can’t have one set of rules for the landlords you like and another for everyone else."
Spatial Equity describes itself as a minority-owned affordable housing developer. Sethi has emphasized a commitment to community-focused housing and has spoken out against displacing tenants. He has a background in left-wing housing advocacy, including participation in groups linked to Mamdani's administration. He was part of the NYC Community Land Trust Learning Exchange, an initiative connected to The New Economy Project, which is led by Deyanira Del Río, a member of Mamdani's transition team.
Mamdani's administration has produced a taxpayer-funded video promoting tenant advocacy groups. City Hall and Spatial Equity did not immediately respond to requests for comment.