Mamdani Calls for Replacing Private Homes with Communal Living in Resurfaced Video
Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist candidate for New York City mayor, is facing intensifying criticism after resurfaced videos revealed him advocating for the replacement of private housing with communal living structures. The controversial footage has prompted accusations that Mamdani’s platform leans far deeper into Marxist ideology than he admits, echoing language often associated with communist revolutionary theory.
As Fox News first reported, Mamdani appeared at a 2021 socialist conference where he urged fellow leftists not to compromise on their objectives, stating bluntly: “We must seize the means of production.” The applause that followed highlighted the crowd’s enthusiasm—but also gave fuel to critics who say Mamdani’s agenda represents a dangerous fringe ideology.
In a second video, also from 2021 and published by progressive media outlet The Gravel Institute, Mamdani outlines a plan to “de-commodify” housing in New York City. He criticizes the idea of homes being treated as private assets and calls for transitioning away from market-based housing altogether.
“Why do so many people end up homeless?” Mamdani asks. “It’s not because there aren’t enough homes to go around… It’s because housing people is not a primary goal of developers or landlords. Their goal, simply put, is to make a profit.”
He goes on to argue that housing should no longer be treated as a market commodity “just like clothes or cars,” and proposes a bold alternative: eliminating private housing in favor of communal living. This includes shared laundry facilities, communal kitchens, food co-ops, public bathhouses, and even collective pharmacies and swimming pools.
“If we want to end the housing crisis, the solution has to be moving toward the full de-commodification of housing,” Mamdani says. “In other words, moving away from the status quo in which most people access housing by purchasing it on the market and toward a future where we guarantee high quality housing to all as a human right.”
Fox News noted that Mamdani points to post-war communist Vienna as a model for how a society can strip profit out of housing, though he concedes that today’s Vienna still relies on some private housing and requires rent payments from many residents.
Mamdani also proposes using “community land trusts” to gradually buy up existing private housing and convert it to collective ownership.
While Mamdani’s supporters praise his ideas as visionary, critics from across the political spectrum are warning that his plans amount to a thinly veiled endorsement of collectivist economics and a fundamental assault on private property rights.
Former Obama Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has expressed concern about Mamdani’s platform, warning that such policies could severely damage New York City’s economy if enacted.
As the mayoral race heats up, the resurfaced videos are sparking a growing debate over how far left is too far—even in a city known for progressive politics.
Watch video: NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Advocates for Communal Living | Housing Revolution
Image: Scene from video about Mamdani’s campaign. Source: Blabber buzz
