In a unique and underground setting just after midnight on Wednesday, Zohran Mamdani officially took office as New York City’s 112th mayor. At 34, he not only becomes the youngest person in recent history to take on this role, but also the first Muslim to lead the city.
The ceremony took place in the historic, yet unused, subway station beneath City Hall. This station, part of the city’s inaugural subway line, was chosen by Mamdani, a democratic socialist, to reflect his political vision and goals.
“Taking my oath here, beneath City Hall in this iconic subway station, underscores the critical role of public transit in the lifeblood, prosperity, and heritage of New York City,” Mamdani stated.
State Attorney General Letitia James, who played a significant role in Mamdani’s campaign, was present to administer the oath of office.
“This moment represents the pinnacle of honor and privilege in my life,” expressed Mamdani, accompanied by his wife Rama Duwaji, an illustrator, and his parents, Mahmood Mamdani, a professor at Columbia University, and filmmaker Mira Nair.
On Thursday afternoon, Mamdani will be formally inaugurated in a grand ceremony on the steps of City Hall, where a large turnout of supporters is anticipated. His team has organized this event as a public “block party.” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent democratic socialist who has been a significant influence on Mamdani, is expected to officiate the swearing-in during the afternoon event.
Mamdani used the setting Thursday morning to announce his pick for city Transportation Commissioner — Mike Flynn, whose likely selection was reported Wednesday by the Daily News.
“I can think of no better moment to announce our new Department of Transportation Commissioner than this,” he added, calling Flynn to the station steps. “We embark on an administration that will take seriously the responsibility and the opportunity we have to make this streetscape and the public transit of the city we call home the envy of the world,” the mayor said.
After running a campaign centered on making the city more affordable, Mamdani is expected to face pressure to quickly deliver on his main promises to freeze rent for stabilized tenants, make public buses free and drastically expand fully subsidized childcare.
Mamdani’s childcare proposal appears another top priority, especially as Gov. Hochul has voiced public support for it. Questions remain, though, over how an expansion of free childcare will be funded.
Mamdani has proposed jacking up taxes on millionaires and corporations in order to raise billions of dollars in new revenue required to bankroll both his bus and childcare plans.
Hochul, who’s up for reelection this year, is opposed to a new tax on the wealthy, but hasn’t closed the door on putting increased levies on corporations doing business in New York. Tax rates are set by the state, meaning any increases will all but certainly need the support of the governor.
In addition to being the city’s first Muslim mayor, he’s also its first of South Asian descent, with his parents having immigrated to the U.S. after being born in India.
“He has lead people ever since he could,” Nair, the Mayor’s mother, told reporters. “But this was unimaginable, but, I think, quite beautiful. And I think, really, it’ll be the dawn of a new day.”
Mamdani takes over the reins at City Hall after Eric Adams’ first and only term as mayor was marred by a number of scandals, including his now-dismissed federal corruption indictment.
On his way out, Adams took several steps to try and stymie Mamdani’s agenda, including by making several appointments this month to the Rent Guidelines Board in an effort to at least temporarily block the incoming mayor’s pledge to freeze rents for the city’s 2 million stabilized tenants.
Mamdani has vowed he’ll still be able to enact a rent freeze for each of the four years of his first term. He hasn’t elaborated on how he’ll be able to do so despite Adams’ moves.
