The New York State Tenant Bloc, a nonprofit organization previously led by Cea Weaver, is advocating for the use of $2.2 billion in newly approved taxpayer funds to facilitate the transfer of rent-stabilized housing units from landlords to tenant-backed groups. Weaver, who joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration in January, helmed the tenant bloc until her appointment.
The group stated on social media platform X that the funds, part of the Mayor's "Block by Block" housing plan, are intended "to take housing off landlords' hands." The announcement coincided with a discussion about Mamdani's recent rent freeze for rent-stabilized units, and included a call for tenants to organize to "make the rent freeze meaningful."
Mayor Mamdani's housing plan, unveiled in late May, outlines a strategy to "transfer ownership" of neglected buildings to entities such as community land trusts, nonprofits, and tenants. Jay Martin, Executive Vice President of the New York Apartment Association, suggested that the $2.2 billion earmarked for "ownership transfers" could be used by tenant groups to acquire these properties. Martin also noted the close connection between Weaver's views and the Tenant Bloc's initiatives, stating that Weaver "controls housing policy out of the mayor’s office."
Previous reporting indicated that Mamdani's plan involves legal action against landlords of distressed buildings, leading to the appointment of a non-profit to manage the properties. The city's Housing Development Corporation would then provide loans and tax incentives for tenants to collectively assume ownership. A spokesperson for City Hall commented that the administration is "investing in the long-term health of our housing stock, including the purchase of distressed buildings where necessary, so tenants are not left at the mercy of neglect or speculation."
Weaver has previously acknowledged that rent freezes could exacerbate issues within the rent-stabilized housing market, potentially leading to deteriorating building conditions. She suggested this outcome could force property owners into foreclosure, thereby facilitating the seizure of private property. Records also show Weaver has previously criticized homeownership, describing it as a "weapon of white supremacy" in social media posts.