On a freezing New Year’s Day, the democratic socialist mayor took the oath of office on the steps of New York City Hall.
Zoran Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor
Zoran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor with a historic oath and street party.
New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s Jan. 1 inauguration and block party reflected a diverse city seeking to fulfill the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist’s pledge to address affordability.
On a freezing New Year’s Day, the Democratic mayor took the oath of office on the steps of City Hall. Thousands of people lined several blocks across Manhattan, and many celebrities defended the mayor, a touchstone of millennial culture. Mamdani acknowledged that people, including those outside the five boroughs, want to know how the left will run city government.
The former state legislator from Queens has vowed to govern the state as an unapologetic democratic socialist, just as he was when he was elected.
Here are five key points about his inauguration.
Mamdani’s faith is on full display
Mamdani’s Islamic faith was brought to the fore during the inauguration ceremony.
He took the oath of office at midnight by swearing into Islam’s holiest book, the Koran, and later took the oath again at a public inauguration ceremony.
Imam Khalid Latif, along with representatives from multiple faiths, made the call focused on how Mamdani’s coalition represents ordinary New Yorkers, rather than the rich and powerful..
Mamdani will be the first Muslim mayor of the country’s largest city. He is an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights and a critic of Israel. His selection raised concerns among many conservatives and supporters of Israel. Some political opponents have sought to link him to Islamist terrorists. Mamdani previously said he was told to downplay his faith when seeking elected office.
Latif is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Islamic Center of New York City and was appointed Chaplain of the New York City Police Department in 2007.
“Never forget that this office exists to serve the people, not to stand above them,” Latif said in his prayer. “We encourage all those who came together to make something happen that many said would never happen.”
Latif continued: “I want no one to have to choose between rent or dignity, medicine or food, stay or survival.” “Let’s shape policy with compassion and budgets that reflect our values.”
democratic socialists come to power
Nearly a decade ago, democratic socialism was an obscure term unknown to most Americans.
Since then, several MPs, including Mamdani, have brought the issue to the forefront.
Before taking Mamdani’s oath of office, fellow Democratic Socialist and Brooklyn native Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) said Mamdani’s policies to address affordability were not radical.
But Sanders said his supporters need to continue pushing for his policies, such as free buses, universal child care and even city-run grocery stores. Mr. Sanders’ trademark message of making the wealthy and big corporations pay more taxes drew chants of “tax the rich.”
“The billionaire class of this city and country needs to understand that they can’t have it all in America,” Sanders said. “America, our great country, must belong to all of us, not just a few, and that lesson begins today in New York City.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), a fellow democratic socialist, opened the inauguration ceremony with a speech. Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani look to Sanders as a source of inspiration for progressive politics.
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that Mamdani’s campaign platform focuses on addressing affordability through free universal child care, affordable rent, and “clean and dignified” public transportation for New Yorkers.
“I chose that over the distraction of bigotry and the brutality of extreme income inequality,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We chose this path because we know it’s the right thing to do, we know it’s the smart thing to do, and we think if we can succeed here, we can succeed anywhere.”
In his speech, Mamdani said he was elected as a democratic socialist and would now govern as one. Two moderate Democrats, Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Eric Adams, sat on stage and listened.
It’s time to recognize and govern that the world is watching.
Mamdani acknowledged that the world is watching to see what democratic socialists can do in power. President Donald Trump and Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson have used Mamdani as a boogeyman, but he did not mention them or Congress in his inaugural address. Instead, he focused on New Yorkers and their city.
His campaign promised a lower cost of living, and that message spread far beyond New York and changed Democratic politics. But now, he said, the administration needs to implement his platform.
“They want to know whether the left can govern,” Mamdani said. “They want to know whether the difficulties that plague them can be resolved. They want to know whether it is right to have hope again.”
Mamdani said New York City will serve as a model for the world. “Ladies and gentlemen, the work has just begun,” he said.
Mamdani is totally a millennial
Like many millennial men, Mamdani began his rap career under the monikers Mr. Cardamom and Young Cardamom, complete with SoundCloud.
His inaugural music was chosen from a wide range of genres and emphasized his generation.
Broadway actor Javier Muñoz, who appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” and “Hamilton,” sang the national anthem. New York-based disc jockey DJ mOma served as master of ceremonies prior to the inauguration, playing welcome music during a seven-block street party.
His set included international selections, from Jennifer Lopez’s 2001 song “Pray” to Indian singer Bharatraj Masinia’s “Thali Mummy Ne Chawe Pono Delhi Walo.” Mamdani, whose parents were born in India, will be the first South Asian mayor of New York.
Jay-Z and Stevie Wonder had multiple plays in this set. Jay-Z’s songs included “Beware of the Boys,” a remix of a 1998 song by British-Indian recording artist Punjabi MC, a remix of an original song by Indian Bhangra singer Love Janjua, and, of course, “Empire State of Mind,” a duet with Alicia Keys. “As” and “Another Star” from Wonder’s 1976 album “Songs in the Key of Life” are also included in the playlist.
A mix of Bad Bunny’s (“NUEVAYoL”) popular hits and ABBA’s 70’s pop track “Dancing Queen.” Walk-up music continued during the swearing-in ceremony, with snippets of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People” and Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” heard.
Mamdani, who has now become a key figure in national politics, also represents a change in the old, grey-leaning Democratic Party politics.
Mamdani inspires supporters in freezing cold
Temperatures in Manhattan hovered in the 20s, even with the sun shining through the buildings. But that didn’t stop thousands of Mamdani supporters from taking to the streets and celebrities praising the new mayor.
At times, the celebration felt more like a concert than a political celebration.
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin, who celebrated Hanukkah with Mamdani, gave a musical performance with public school students. Grammy Award-winning singer Lucy Dacus performed a political song often associated with the labor movement at Mamdani’s inauguration.
Dacus, a solo artist and member of the supergroup Boygenius, performed “Bread and Roses,” an early 20th century song derived from poetry and political slogans during the women’s suffrage and labor movements calling for fair wages and better working conditions.
The “Night Shift” singer, 30, from Richmond, Virginia, has been outspoken about abortion rights, LGBTQ+ issues, including condemning Tennessee’s anti-drug law, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Celebrants gathered in front of City Hall bopped to the classic “New York, New York” song popularized by Frank Sinatra, along with music from Jay-Z, Daddy Yankee and Bollywood performers. The song emanating from the steps of City Hall was a love letter to New York’s diversity and multiculturalism, and to the city itself, emblematic of Mandani’s South Asian background.
But even as they danced and sang together, several speakers moved the audience to tears as they shared their vision for a new New York.
