DECEMBER 29, 2025 – The Libertarian Party of New York strongly opposes the recent passage of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) by the New York City Council on December 18, 2025.
This legislation represents a blatant infringement on private property rights, a core principle we hold sacred. By mandating that owners of certain multifamily residential buildings grant qualified nonprofits a right of first offer and right of first refusal before selling to private buyers, COPA effectively imposes government-forced preferences in voluntary transactions. Property owners should have the unfettered right to sell their assets to whomever they choose, at terms they negotiate freely, without interference from the state or favored third parties.
While proponents claim COPA will preserve affordable housing and combat displacement, it achieves the opposite in practice. Such interventions distort the housing market, discourage investment, prolong sales processes, and ultimately reduce the supply of available properties, driving up costs for all New Yorkers.
True solutions to housing affordability lie in reducing government barriers: eliminating excessive regulations, zoning restrictions, and taxes that stifle new construction and renovation.
We call on Mayor Adams to veto this bill and urge the City Council to reject any overrides. New Yorkers deserve freedom, not more coercive mandates that erode individual liberty under the guise of social good.