I'm not a subscriber of WSJ, so I can only read the first paragraph. Based on the headline and the first paragraph, I don't see the problem. Wouldn't WeWork have to lease the space from someone? Why is it a problem if that someone is the CEO of WeWork? If WeWork is paying above market rent, then sure, that is corrupt.
A lot of people hop on the band-wagon of bashing "rent-seeking", mostly misusing the term in the process, confusing rent-seeking with leasing/renting land or capital. WeWork's whole business is built on renting as far as I can tell.