Judge Throws Wrench In Mamdani’s Plan to Take Over NYC Housing-lllllll
A federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday blocked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s attempt to intervene in the sale of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments. The Mamdani administration sought to delay the transaction after tenants complained that the current owner, Pinnacle Group, had failed to properly maintain the properties.
Tenants also raised concerns that the prospective buyer, Summit Properties USA, could continue similar practices.
City officials argued they had standing to intervene because New York City is a creditor of Pinnacle, which owes more than $12 million in unpaid fines, according to Gothamist.
Bankruptcy Judge David Jones rejected the city’s request, preventing the administration from taking part in the sale and marking an early setback for Mayor Mamdani’s efforts to influence housing policy through the courts, Fox Business Network added.
Jones could approve the sale to Summit as soon as this Thursday, but Mamdani’s administration says they are still looking at options.
“We will continue to fight to ensure any owner of this portfolio makes necessary repairs to bring the buildings up to code and respects the rent stabilization regulations,” Leila Bozorg, the city’s deputy mayor for housing, told the outlet.
The recent court defeat follows another controversy that has harmed Mamdani’s housing agenda: his appointment of Cea Weaver to lead the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. Weaver has previously claimed that homeownership is a “weapon of white supremacy” and has argued that property should be regarded as a “collective good.”
In light of the ongoing controversy regarding her comments, Weaver expressed regret for “some” of her past statements. Although she did not specify which remarks she regrets, Weaver emphasized her commitment to addressing “racial inequalities” while serving the people of New York.
“But, you know, I do think my decades of experience fighting for more affordable housing sort of stands on its own,” Weaver said. “I’m proud to be in this role fighting for stronger tenants’ rights. And I think that for many years, people have been locked out of the property market, that has produced systemic and racial inequalities in our system.”
“I want to make sure that everybody has a safe and affordable place to live — whether they rent or own,” she added. “And that is something that I’m laser-focused on in this new role.”
Pinnacle, owned by billionaire Joel Wiener, controls roughly 140 buildings and about 9,000 apartments across New York City, according to court filings. Following the bankruptcy filing, Summit Real Estate Holdings submitted a $450 million bid to purchase dozens of Pinnacle properties located in Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. The proposed sale requires court approval before it can be finalized.
“Completion of the bankruptcy auction process will bring financial stability along with the opportunity to stabilize services, outcomes which we would expect the City would not want to disrupt,” Pinnacle lawyer Ken Fisher noted in a recent statement about the coming sale, according to the outlet.
In court filings, the city’s lawyers expressed concerns about the financial aspects of the bankruptcy sale, indicating that Summit may lack the necessary resources to enhance conditions in the housing complexes it aims to acquire.
“Continuing losses and mounting expenses might lead to the need for additional bankruptcies or reorganizations, a state of financial and social chaos potentially worse than the current situation of the debtors themselves,” the city said.
The Union of Pinnacle Tenants, a collective formed to resist the sale of their buildings, claims that the current landlord has neglected maintenance, failed to settle utility bills, and allowed the apartments to fall into disrepair. They are concerned that the next owner will not make improvements to living conditions.
The struggle over the Pinnacle properties became a central issue in the recent mayoral race, with housing advocates highlighting how New York City’s skyrocketing rents and housing expenses are adversely affecting low-income residents, potentially leading to increased homelessness. New York is known for having some of the highest housing costs in the country.
Rep. Ilhan Omar Intensifies Criticism of Federal Immigration Enforcement
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota sharply escalated her criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations on Monday, accusing federal agents of treating Minneapolis as an occupying force and again calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation or impeachment.
In remarks to constituents in Minneapolis, Omar repeatedly described the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal officers in the city as an inappropriate use of government authority, saying the situation has created fear among local residents. Omar said Minneapolis is “currently under occupation” and cited concerns about schools, hospitals and daily life as evidence of what she called harmful federal intervention.
“We do not exaggerate when we say we have schools where two-thirds of the students are afraid to go to school,” Omar said. “We do not exaggerate when we say we have people who are afraid to go to the hospital because our hospitals have occupying paramilitary forces.”
Omar referenced two recent fatalities during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis — the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good — and argued those incidents underscored the need for new leadership at DHS. In her remarks, she blamed senior White House advisers for shaping the administration’s immigration policies.
“When we say it is time for Kristi Noem to go, we mean it now,” Omar added. “And there needs to be accountability for the architect of the terror we are facing in Minneapolis and so many other cities, which is Stephen Miller.”
Omar’s comments follow an appearance on MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes, where she reiterated those positions and broadened her critique to include senior administration officials. In that interview, she said Noem should resign or face impeachment, echoing earlier statements from House Democratic leadership. Omar also repeated criticism of Miller, a senior White House adviser on immigration policy, calling him a “copycat of the Nazis” and suggesting he should be prosecuted.
Her remarks also tied national Republican rhetoric on immigration to broader social tensions, asserting that aggressive enforcement language has “created anger” that can lead to confrontations with Somali immigrants and other community members in Minnesota.
Omar’s public criticism comes amid the ongoing federal immigration operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Federal agents have been deployed to Minneapolis to apprehend illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, drawing protests and heightened scrutiny from local officials and advocacy groups.
Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have called for increased oversight of DHS and ICE policies as part of broader negotiations over long-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Jeffries has publicly stated that Noem should be impeached if she does not resign, and Schumer has called for additional conditions on immigration enforcement in appropriations legislation.
In response to increased political pressure, DHS has taken steps to increase transparency in its operations. Earlier this week, Secretary Kristi Noem announced that body-worn cameras will be issued to all federal immigration enforcement officers deployed in Minneapolis as an immediate measure, with plans to expand the program nationwide as funding becomes available. “Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Federal officials have said that some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers present during the Jan. 24 shooting of Pretti were already equipped with body cameras, though full footage has not been released. Officials have not yet clarified whether ICE officers were wearing cameras during the earlier fatal encounter involving Good.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded to Noem’s announcement by saying body cameras should have been in place prior to the deaths of Pretti and Good, who were tragically killed while interfering with ICE law enforcement operations.
20 Minutes ago in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie was confirmed as… See more
Just 20 minutes ago in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie was confirmed as the focus of a rapidly developing update that has already begun to ripple across newsrooms and social media.
While early headlines sparked confusion and speculation, sources close to the situation emphasized that the confirmation centers on a professional development rather than the alarming rumors that briefly circulated online.
The speed at which the news broke—paired with Guthrie’s high public profile—helped fuel the immediate surge of attention, with viewers eager for clarity and context.
According to initial reports, the confirmation came during a tightly scheduled appearance in Arizona, where Guthrie has been involved in ongoing media commitments.
Attendees described a composed and focused presence, noting that the announcement was handled with care and precision. Industry insiders say the timing underscores how quickly information now travels, especially when it involves trusted faces in broadcast journalism.
Within minutes, clips, quotes, and partial summaries began trending, amplifying both interest and misunderstanding.
What stands out most is the response from colleagues and longtime viewers. Messages of support and curiosity poured in, reflecting the connection Guthrie has built over years of consistent reporting and calm authority during major national moments.
Analysts suggest that the public reaction speaks less to the announcement itself and more to the trust audiences place in familiar voices—when news breaks about them, it feels personal. That trust has kept the conversation largely measured, even as speculation continues.
As details continue to emerge, media observers caution against jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information. Full context is expected to be clarified through official channels shortly, and until then, reputable sources urge patience.
One thing is clear: when news involves a figure as recognizable as Savannah Guthrie, even a brief confirmation can command national attention in minutes. Stay tuned as this story develops and the full picture comes into focus.
