The Department of Justice is sounding the alarm on New York City Hall. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon issued a stern warning to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration this week.
The conflict centers on the appointment of radical activist Cea Weaver. Mamdani tapped Weaver to lead the city's "Office to Protect Tenants" on New Year's Day.
Weaver is a self-described socialist with a history of attacking property rights. Resurfaced videos show her arguing that America must move away from individual property ownership.
In one viral clip, Weaver claimed that "families, and white families especially" must change their relationship to property. She advocated for shifting toward "collective good" and "shared equity" models.
Assistant Attorney General Dhillon responded directly to these statements on social media. “Consider this your official notice,” Dhillon wrote to the city.
The DOJ official emphasized that race-based discrimination is illegal under federal law. “We will NOT tolerate discrimination based on skin color. It is ILLEGAL,” she added.
Dhillon further noted that the Civil Rights Division is "paying very close attention" to Mamdani’s agenda. She warned that the federal government will intervene if civil rights are violated.
Critics have also unearthed Weaver's past social media posts calling to "seize private property." One now-deleted post described homeownership as a “weapon of white supremacy.”
Weaver previously served as a policy advisor to Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. She was a key figure in the 2019 effort to overhaul New York's rent stabilization laws.
Mayor Mamdani has defended his pick despite the mounting federal scrutiny. He praised Weaver’s record of "standing up for tenants across the city and state."
Weaver herself addressed the controversy in a recent interview, calling some of her past posts "regretful." She claimed her primary focus remains on safe and affordable housing.
However, legal watchdogs remain skeptical of the administration’s long-term goals. They fear Mamdani’s "collectivist" rhetoric signals a coming assault on private landlords.
Mamdani’s platform includes a push to freeze rents on one million regulated apartments. He has also threatened to force negligent landlords to sell their properties to the city.
The DOJ's warning marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and the new socialist leadership in New York. Dhillon made it clear that "just because you’re white doesn't mean you have fewer rights.