NEW YORK – The Democrat Zohran Mamdani sworn in as mayor of New York this Thursday just after midnight in a brief private ceremony with his family, in which he assured that serving as a councilor is the “honor and privilege” of his life.
The politician from the socialist wing was inaugurated by state prosecutor Letitia James, whom she considered one of her inspirations, in a historic subway station, of Spanish design and closed to the public called Old City Hall, which is located below City Hall.
The choice of the place was intended to be “a testament to the importance of public transportation, the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city,” said the mayor, who signed documents and paid a fee of nine dollars to the secretary of the mayor’s office on the spot.
Mamdani, already the 112th mayor of New York, is at 34 years old the second youngest councilor in the city, the first of South Asian descent and also the first Muslimso he took the oath with the Quran, which was held by his wife, Rama Duwaji.
Prosecutor James, before guiding him in the oath, praised the mayor, declaring herself “proud of what he has achieved.” and confident that it will bring “a new era of progress, promises and prosperity” to the big city.
The event, which lasted less than five minutes, was broadcast on the mayor’s office’s YouTube channel and appeared to end before Mamdani completed his speech. Only some local media were accredited.
According to the digital media AmNY, the mayor announced the appointment of the person in charge of the Department of Transportation, who will be Mike Flynn, a former employee of that agenda specialized in pedestrian and bicycle programs.
Mamdani will be sworn in again today on the steps of City Hall at 1:00 p.m. local time, at an event in which he will be sworn in by leftist Senator Bernie Sanders.and which will be followed by a community party open to the public in the streets of southern Manhattan.
Present at the event, which will be broadcast online, will be Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Comptroller-elect Mark Levine, among other political figures.
Political earthquake
The young politician, a member of the Democratic Socialist Party of America and whom Trump described as a “communist,” He reaches the mayor’s office after four years as a state assemblyman and working to help people with problems accessing housing.
His arrival has also been a shock to the weakened Democratic Party, unable to find leadership to compete with Trump, and has shaken the political board thanks to the strong connection he achieved with his voters, both online and in the streets, by defending his progressive ideas.
Mamdani takes office at a time of citizen distrust, with inflation that has remained above the national average in the last five years, with peaks of up to 6% after the pandemic, and after the resignations of several officials during the administration of Eric Adams, who was accused of several federal charges that Trump ordered withdrawn.
Promises for a more affordable city
The main promises that gave him victory are based on social justice, including free and more efficient buses in a city with high fare evasion, which will cost $3 starting January 1.
Mamdani, a Ugandan by birth, also promised universal child care, municipal supermarkets with low prices and freeze rent in rent-protected apartmentsa decision made by a board appointed by the councilor.
These measures seek to alleviate the economic burden on families and improve the quality of life in the Big Apple, although their implementation will depend on the municipal budget and the support of different local and state organizations.
The immigration problem
In addition, the young politician must face Trump’s threat to cut necessary federal funds to immigrant-friendly cities known as ‘sanctuary cities.’
These cities, which include New York, limit cooperation with federal authorities on immigration matters, allowing them to protect undocumented residents.
In this way, a reduction in funds could affect key security, education and social assistance programs, testing the capacity of the new mayor as he pushes his ambitious social justice proposals.
Keep reading:
– Trump and Mamdani agree to work together for the good of New York City
– Mamdani admits to being proud of helping immigrants evade ICE
– The billionaires who supported Mamdani for the New York elections