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New York City socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism online over a news conference where a local housing advocate claimed evictions are a form of “violence” as the mayor stood behind her.
“Our city is turning the corner on tenant power. When we organize, we win results. The Mamdani administration is emboldening us so we no longer tolerate the violence of evictions as a matter of business as usual,” Antonia Marrero, a member of the Housing Organizers for People Empowerment (HOPE) Tenant Union, said during a news conference Thursday.
Mamdani, who has faced heavy criticism over the past year for his housing policies, was quickly blasted by conservatives and political commentators in general on social media over the comment.
“This looks like a scene out of a Batman movie,” Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez posted on X.
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“Theater of the absurd,” Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on X.
“Look at Mamdani’s face in the back,” the conservative influencer account End Wokeness posted on X, referencing Mamdani’s grin as the woman was speaking.
“Impossible to describe how much damage Fauci and the CDC lying to everyone about the efficacy of masks caused,” Outkick writer Ian Miller posted on X. “Even Mamdani had to dial up the fake smile to 11 to hide how ridiculous this all is.”
“Is theft from the property owner violence?” investor Rick Rule posted on X.
“This is the game Mamdani is playing,” Red State writer Bonchie posted on X. “He ‘freezes’ rent, which means some landlords can’t afford to do repairs or keep renters, and then people get evicted. Then he weaponizes that anger in his favor. The end goal is confiscation. Manipulative and sick.”
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“The mole people are taking over,” the Breckinridge County Republican Party in Kansas posted on X.
“The grinning Mamdani in the background makes it all look like some creepy scene in a horror movie,” conservative radio host Mike Gallagher posted on X.
“How is this real,” conservative commentator Graham Allen posted on X.
“I always wondered how the pigeon lady from Home Alone 2 came out of the pandemic,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock posted on X.
“Freak show,” Neighbors Together Oakland founder Seneca Scott posted on X.
“Mamdani is just trolling at this point,” political commentator Link Lauren posted on X. “He wants press and attention. The outrage fuels him. Even he’s laughing in the back.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office and the parent organization of HOPE for comment.
Thursday’s event highlighted Mamdani releasing a “Rental Ripoff Report,” which makes the case that residents in the nation’s largest city are paying too much rent while not receiving enough in return and offering up 23 proposals to remedy that issue.
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“At Rental Ripoff Hearings across the five boroughs, we heard from thousands of New Yorkers living with mold that was never treated, pests that were never addressed and fees that were never explained. Listening was only the first step,” Mamdani said in a press release.
“This report turns those stories into concrete action. From requiring disclosure of AI-altered listings to bringing our code enforcement systems into the 21st century and finally recognizing tenant unions, we are making it clear that every New Yorker deserves a safe home – and every landlord who refuses to provide one will be held accountable.”
Earlier this week, Mamdani faced renewed criticism over housing affordability as rents in Manhattan and Brooklyn hit record highs, with conservative commentators arguing that immigration-driven demand is adding pressure to an already tight rental market that the mayor campaigned to ease.
Mamdani campaigned on addressing New York City’s housing crisis by freezing increases for rent-stabilized tenants, building 200,000 new affordable homes and expanding tenant protections. Since taking office, he has successfully frozen rents on rent-stabilized leases, released a housing plan aimed at building and preserving 400,000 affordable homes and moved to expand rental vouchers.
Critics argue that rent freezes will lead to increased prices for everyone else and disincentivize property owners from doing more than the bare minimum to maintain units that they aren’t being paid market rate to rent.
Fox News Digital’s Robert Schmad contributed to this report.
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