Zohran Mamdani has been officially sworn in as New York City’s mayor, marking a significant milestone as the first Muslim to hold this position. The ceremony took place on March 15, 2024, at a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall, where Mamdani placed his hand on a Koran while taking the oath of office. His inauguration is set against a backdrop of pressing challenges, including rising living costs, which he aims to address through a robust liberal agenda.
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Party, later participated in a public inauguration where Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent figure in Mamdani’s political journey, administered the oath for a second time. During his address to a supportive crowd, the new mayor emphasized a commitment to “govern expansively and audaciously.” He assured attendees, “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.” This statement resonated with many as he outlined his intention to leverage governmental power to improve the lives of New Yorkers.
The inauguration drew a large crowd despite frigid temperatures, with attendees gathering in a section of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” renowned for hosting ticker-tape parades. Throughout the ceremony, speakers echoed the theme that propelled Mamdani to victory in the election: a commitment to using government resources to alleviate the burdens faced by those struggling with the city’s high cost of living. Sanders remarked that advocating for affordable housing by raising taxes on the wealthiest is not a radical notion but rather a moral imperative.
Accompanied on stage by his wife, Rama Duwaji, Mamdani’s inauguration also saw the presence of former mayors, including Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio. At just 34 years old, Mamdani is the youngest mayor in generations, as well as the first of South Asian descent and the first born in Africa, having emigrated from Kampala, Uganda, at the age of seven.
His campaign, which popularized the term “affordability,” promised transformative policies aimed at reducing living costs in one of the world’s most expensive cities. Key proposals include free childcare, free bus services, a rent freeze for approximately one million households, and a pilot program for city-run grocery stores. Despite these ambitious plans, Mamdani will also need to tackle the city’s ongoing issues, including waste management, snow removal, and public transportation delays.
Mamdani’s journey to this pivotal role has been shaped by his experiences in a post-9/11 America, where many Muslims faced challenges to acceptance. He became an American citizen in 2018 and previously worked on political campaigns for various Democratic candidates before winning a state Assembly seat in 2020, representing a district in Queens.
Taking office during a period of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mamdani inherits a city that has seen a decline in violent crime to pre-pandemic levels and a resurgence of tourism. However, significant concerns persist regarding high prices and rising rents, which will require immediate attention and action from his administration.
Mamdani’s leadership is set against a backdrop of hope and expectation, as many New Yorkers look to him to deliver on his promises and navigate the complexities of city governance.
