Picture Credit : @ZohranKMamdani/X
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who rose to prominence on a campaign centred on tackling affordability in one of the most expensive cities in the United States, was sworn in early Thursday as New York City’s 112th mayor.
At 34, Mamdani makes history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first South Asian mayor, and the youngest person to hold the office in more than a century.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said moments after taking the oath, CNN reported. The former Queens-based state assemblyman stunned the political establishment with his victory in the Democratic primary last summer, running on a platform focused on easing the cost-of-living burden.
His campaign pledged universal childcare, a rent freeze for nearly two million rent-stabilised tenants, and making city buses ‘fast and free’, according to CNN.
Mamdani was sworn in shortly after midnight during a private ceremony attended by his wife, artist Rama Duwaji.
His parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, were also present. New York State Attorney General Letitia James, whom Mamdani has previously described as a ‘political inspiration’, administered the oath of office.
The ceremony was held at the disused City Hall subway station beneath City Hall Park in Manhattan, a historic site closed to the public since 1945. The station, one of the city’s original subway stops, opened in 1904, features ornate tiled arches, stained glass skylights and chandeliers, CNN reported.
Speaking after the ceremony, Mamdani highlighted the symbolism of the venue, describing it as ‘a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city’.
He also announced the appointment of veteran city planner Michael Flynn as the next commissioner of the city’s Department of Transportation. Public transport has been a cornerstone of Mamdani’s agenda.
