The transition team will include two former vice-presidents of the chamber
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a roster of experienced members to help him with the transition, a move that previews how he intends to turn his ambitious campaign promises into reality.
“In the coming months, my team and I will build a chamber capable of fulfilling the promises of this campaign”, guaranteed Mamdani, a Democrat who defines himself as a socialist, in his first press conference as president-elect.
“We will form an administration that is equally competent and compassionate, guided by integrity and willing to work as hard as the millions of New Yorkers who call this city their home,” he added.
The transition team will include two former vice presidents, Maria Torres-Springer and Melanie Hartzog, former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, and Grace Bonilla, director of United Way of New York, a nonprofit organization targeting low-income residents.
Political strategist Elana Leopold will serve as executive director of the team, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Mamdani stated that these authorities will help him lead the transition, as he adapts from the “poetry of the campaign” to the “beautiful prose of governance”, an ironic reference to a phrase used by former governor Mario Cuomo, father of one of his opponents in the race for mayor, former governor Andrew Cuomo.
At 34, Mamdani will be the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century, and now faces the task of implementing his comprehensive housing affordability agenda while also taking command of the country’s largest police department, sanitation department and school system.
Among his campaign promises are free daycare, free public transport, supermarkets managed by the city council and a new Department of Community Safety, which aims to expand an existing municipal initiative, which sends mental health professionals, instead of police, to respond to certain emergency calls.
Although he presented his election as a break with the political pattern, his transition team includes well-known figures from the two previous administrations.
Mamdani, who was criticized during the campaign for past statements criticizing the New York Police Department, today reiterated his intention to retain the city’s current police commissioner, Jessica Tisch. The commissioner declined to say whether she would accept the position.
City Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker announced his resignation today, effective next month.
Mamdani already faces criticism from Republicans nationwide, including President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to the city if Mamdani wins the election.
Describing his goal today of “preparing the city for Trump”, Mamdani said he was still open to talking to the head of state about “ways to work together to serve New Yorkers”.
Trump expressed today, at a press conference, that he was open to the idea of working with the future mayor.
“We will help you. We want New York to succeed. [Vamos ajudar] A little, perhaps”, he indicated.
