NYC mayoral inauguration for Zohran Mamdani reside from Metropolis Corridor – NBC New York

Zohran Mamdani turned mayor of New York Metropolis on Thursday, taking up one of the unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to rework authorities on behalf of the town’s striving, struggling working class.

Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in at a decommissioned subway station beneath Metropolis Corridor simply after midnight, putting his hand on a Quran as he took his oath as the town’s first Muslim mayor.

After working a part of the evening in his new workplace, Mamdani then returned to Metropolis Corridor in a taxi cab round noon Thursday for a grander public inauguration the place U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of many mayor’s political heroes, administered the oath for a second time.

“Starting at this time, we are going to govern expansively and audaciously. We could not at all times succeed, however by no means will we be accused of missing the braveness to strive,” Mamdani instructed a cheering crowd.

“To those that insist that the period of huge authorities is over, hear me after I say this: Not will Metropolis Corridor hesitate to make use of its energy to enhance New Yorkers’ lives,” he stated.

Throngs turned out within the frigid chilly for an inauguration viewing occasion simply south of Metropolis Corridor on a stretch of Broadway referred to as the “Canyon of Heroes,” well-known for its ticker-tape parades.

Taxing the wealthy

All through the ceremony, audio system hit on the theme that carried Mamdani to victory within the election: Devotion to utilizing authorities energy to raise up the thousands and thousands of people that wrestle with the town’s excessive value of dwelling.

Sanders insisted that doing so — partly by elevating taxes on the wealthy — would not be radical.

“Within the richest nation within the historical past of the world, ensuring that folks can reside in inexpensive housing shouldn’t be radical,” he instructed the gang. “It’s the proper and respectable factor to do.”

In opening remarks, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated Mamdani can be a mayor devoted to the working class.

“It’s the individuals of New York who’ve chosen historic, formidable management in response to untenable and unprecedented occasions. New York, we now have chosen braveness over concern. We’ve chosen prosperity for the numerous over spoils for the few,” she stated.

Mamdani was accompanied on the stage by his spouse, Rama Duwaji. The earlier mayor, Eric Adams, was in attendance, sitting close to one other former mayor, Invoice de Blasio.

Actor Mandy Patinkin, who lately hosted Mamdani to have a good time Hannukah, sang “Over the Rainbow” with kids from an elementary college refrain. The invocation was given by Imam Khalid Latif, the director of the Islamic Heart of New York Metropolis. Poet Cornelius Eady learn an authentic poem known as “Proof.”

Along with being the town’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani can also be its first of South Asian descent and the primary to be born in Africa. At 34, Mamdani can also be the town’s youngest mayor in generations.

The mayoral appointments continued on Tuesday, with mayor-elect Mamdani naming two attorneys who will perform as the town’s high legal professionals. He additionally revealed his decide for chief of the town’s public well being care system. Chris Glorioso stories. 

Free little one care and bus rides

In a marketing campaign that helped make “affordability” a buzzword throughout the political spectrum, the democratic socialist promised to carry transformative change with insurance policies meant to decrease the price of dwelling in one of many world’s costliest cities. His platform included free little one care, free buses, a lease freeze for about 1 million households, and a pilot of city-run grocery shops.

However he may even need to face different obligations: dealing with trash and snow and rats, whereas getting blamed for subway delays and potholes.

Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a tutorial and writer. His household moved to New York Metropolis when he was 7, with Mamdani rising up in a post-9/11 metropolis the place Muslims didn’t at all times really feel welcome. He turned an American citizen in 2018.

He labored on political campaigns for Democratic candidates within the metropolis earlier than he sought public workplace himself, successful a state Meeting seat in 2020 to signify a piece of Queens.

Mamdani and his spouse, Rama Duwaji, are departing their one-bedroom, lease stabilized residence within the outer-borough to take up residence within the stately mayoral residence in Manhattan.

Mamdani inherits a metropolis on the upswing, after years of gradual restoration from the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime has dropped to pre-pandemic lows. Vacationers are again. Unemployment, which soared in the course of the pandemic years, can also be again to pre-COVID ranges.

But deep issues stay about excessive costs and rising rents within the metropolis.

He’ll additionally need to cope with Republican President Donald Trump.

Throughout the mayoral race, Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from the town if Mamdani received and mused about sending Nationwide Guard troops to the town.

However Trump stunned supporters and foes alike by inviting the Democrat to the White Home for what ended up being a cordial assembly in November.

“I would like him to do a terrific job and can assist him do a terrific job,” Trump stated.

The progressives tackle Trump

Nonetheless, tensions between the 2 leaders are virtually sure to resurface, given their deep coverage disagreements, notably over immigration.

A number of audio system at Thursday’s inauguration criticized the Trump administration’s transfer to deport extra immigrants and expressed hope that Mamdani’s Metropolis Corridor can be an ally to these the president has focused.

Mamdani additionally faces skepticism and opposition from some members of the town’s Jewish group over his criticisms of Israel’s authorities.

The brand new mayor and his crew have spent the weeks since his election victory making ready for the transition, surrounding Mamdani with seasoned palms who’ve labored inside or alongside metropolis authorities.

That included persuading the town’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, to stay in her place — a transfer that helped calm fears within the enterprise group that the administration is likely to be planning radical modifications in policing technique.