Zohran Mamdani was sworn in on Thursday as the first Muslim and the youngest mayor of New York. He was inaugurated shortly after midnight local time by New York State Attorney General Letitia James at the historic Old City Hall subway station. TASR writes about it according to AFP and DPA agencies. “This is truly an honor and a lifetime privilege,” Mamdani told reporters after taking the oath accompanied by his wife Rama Duwaji. He also introduced the city’s new transportation commissioner, Mike Flynn, and in his own words he wants New York’s public transportation network to be the envy of the world.
His office said the choice of a decommissioned metro station was meant to emphasize Mamdani’s connection with working people. Only the 34-year-old Democratic candidate campaigned on a promise to address the rising cost of living. Inauguration at the turn of the year is a long-standing tradition in New York. Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, took his first oath in Times Square, and the mayor before him, Bill de Blasio, was sworn in at his home in Brooklyn.
A second public inauguration ceremony with tens of thousands of guests will be held later on Thursday on the steps of the city hall, where a public street festival is then planned. Mamdani won the election in early November, securing a four-year term as mayor of the largest city in the United States. A year ago, a practically unknown politician promised the voters an ambitious program that foresees a rent freeze, universal childcare and free public buses.
After the election, “symbolism is not enough for voters. The results start to matter a lot more,” said John Kane of New York University. The decisive factor could be the behavior of President Donald Trump, who is also a New Yorker. Mamdani repeatedly criticized, but the two had surprisingly cordial talks at the White House in November.
