Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated as the 112th Mayor of New York City on Thursday at City Hall Park. Following the ceremony, Mamdani began his term by signing executive orders aimed at housing and government structure, and by undertaking a public subway commute on his first full day in office, Friday. His initial actions included addressing the city's housing crisis, revoking executive orders from the previous administration, and reiterating his stance against a planned public transit fare increase.
Inauguration Ceremony Details
The inauguration ceremony for Zohran Mamdani took place on Thursday at City Hall Park. Senator Bernie Sanders administered the oath of office. Attendees included campaign volunteers, former city officials, and public figures.
- Arrival: Mayor Mamdani arrived at the inauguration in a yellow cab driven by Richard Chow, a participant in a 2021 hunger strike by taxi workers. Kuber Sancho-Persad, a taxi industry advocate who had previously organized a campaign stop for Mamdani, noted his father's prior medallion debt and expressed hope for his ability to earn a living as an independent cab owner.
- Notable Attendees:
- Andrew Epstein, Mamdani’s former campaign spokesperson and current advisor to his transition committee, attended with his family.
- Former City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is campaigning for a congressional seat, attended and engaged with his successor, Mark Levine, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Lander referenced a prior cross-endorsement with Mamdani.
- Dena Cox, a campaign field lead, attended with her sister and highlighted Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ speech, which referenced Grenadian revolutionary Maurice Bishop and socialism in the Caribbean.
- Former Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa also attended, interacting with Mamdani supporters and expressing support for the new mayor's success. Sliwa reported missing portions of the event due to extensive security lines.
First Full Day: Subway Commute and Initial Policies
On Friday, his first full day in office, Mayor Mamdani traveled by W train from Astoria, Queens, to City Hall. This public transit commute, during which he interacted with passengers, has been a recurring practice among New York City mayors on their initial days. During his commute, an attempt to use his cell phone to tap to ride the subway was unsuccessful. Mamdani indicated plans to move to Gracie Mansion.
Executive Orders and Policy Initiatives
On his first day in office, Thursday, Mayor Mamdani signed five executive orders.
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Housing Initiatives: Three of the executive orders focused on addressing the city's housing crisis:
- The revival of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, intended to serve as a central coordinating body for tenant rights, landlord issues, and agency assistance for renters.
- The establishment of two task forces aimed at accelerating housing development across the city.
- Following his inauguration, Mamdani visited a Brooklyn apartment building to address a tenants' union, pledging to intensify legal actions against a landlord accused of negligence. This aligned with his campaign platform on housing affordability.
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Government Structure and Prior Orders:
- Mamdani revoked all executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams, an action taken the day after Adams' federal indictment.
- He established a reduction in deputy mayoral positions, setting the number at five, which is fewer than during the Adams administration.
- He confirmed the retention of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism.
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Orders Related to Israel: Among the revoked executive orders were two from the Adams administration concerning Israel. One had adopted a specific definition of antisemitism, including certain criticisms of Israel, and the other prohibited city agencies and employees from boycotting or divesting from the country. This action prompted criticism from some Jewish organizations, and the Israeli government posted allegations on social media that Mamdani had fueled antisemitism. In response on Friday, Mayor Mamdani stated his administration's commitment to combatting hate and division and reiterated that the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism remained operational.
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Civic Engagement: Mamdani also announced the establishment of a Civic Engagement Office.
Stance on Transit Fare Hike
Mayor Mamdani addressed the upcoming $3 fare hike, scheduled for the weekend, stating his opposition to the increase. He described the hike as "out of step with what New Yorkers need at this moment," reaffirming his belief in affordable public transit. He noted he had introduced legislation in the state legislature to freeze fares and emphasized that the fare increase "only heightens the urgency to make buses fast and free across all five boroughs of New York City."