Video reveals NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani promoting communal housing, igniting fierce debate over property rights and city policy.

Resurfaced Videos Highlight Socialist Housing Vision

Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and candidate for New York City mayor, is facing heightened scrutiny after previously recorded videos resurfaced showing his support for communal living and public ownership of housing. In a 2021 video, Mamdani addresses fellow socialists at a conference, calling on them to reject compromise and embrace goals such as “seizing the means of production.”

In another video published by The Gravel Institute, Mamdani proposes transforming housing from a private commodity into a public good. He advocates replacing luxury condos with communal-style living arrangements that feature shared laundry, food cooperatives, bathhouses, and more. “Why do so many people end up homeless? It’s not because there aren’t enough homes. It’s because housing people is not a primary goal of developers or landlords. Their goal, simply put, is to make a profit,” Mamdani argues in the video.

According to Mamdani, the root of the housing crisis lies in the commodification of homes, which treats them as products for sale rather than basic needs. He points to post-war Vienna’s public housing model as an example, while acknowledging that even today, many Viennese residents pay rent and a significant portion of housing remains private.

Detailing his vision, Mamdani envisions communal neighborhoods with shared kitchens, pharmacies, lecture halls, swimming pools, and community land trusts to convert private housing into community-owned spaces. “If we want to end the housing crisis, the solution has to be moving toward the full de-commodification of housing,” he says. “That means guaranteeing high quality housing to all as a human right.”

Political Reactions Intensify Mayoral Race

President Donald Trump has responded sharply to Mamdani’s statements, branding him a “100% Communist Lunatic” and vowing to “save New York City” if Mamdani is elected. On social media, Trump promised to withhold federal funds from the city should Mamdani “not behave,” declaring, “I hold all the levers, and have all the cards. I’ll save New York City, and make it 'Hot' and 'Great' again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!”

Mamdani, for his part, dismisses the “communist” label as a distraction, maintaining that his proposals address deep-seated inequities and offer a solution to the city’s persistent housing crisis. Critics, however, argue that communal housing and public ownership threaten property rights and the economic fabric of the city.

The controversy has become a focal point in the mayoral race, highlighting sharp ideological divides over the future of housing in New York. As the election draws closer, debates over public versus private solutions to the housing crisis—and the appropriate role of government in citizens’ lives—are likely to intensify further.