From the Subway to City Hall: Inside Zohran Mamdani’s Historic New Year’s Inauguration
In a move that signaled his administration’s focus on the working class and the city's infrastructure, Mamdani chose to take his official oath of office in a semi private ceremony at 12:01 a.m. inside the abandoned Old City Hall subway station. The decommissioned station, known for its stunning Romanesque Revival architecture and vaulted tile ceilings, served as what Mamdani called a "testament to the vitality and legacy of our public transit." Administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Mamdani placed his hand on a historic Quran specifically the Schomburg Quran on loan from the New York Public Library symbolizing a bridge between his faith and the city’s storied history. Surrounded by his wife, artist Rama Duwaji, and close family, the new mayor’s first words were a tribute to the "essential" New Yorkers who keep the city running.
The Public Celebration: A Ticker Tape Welcome
While the midnight ceremony was intimate, the public inauguration at 1:00 p.m. on New Year's Day was a massive spectacle. Thousands of New Yorkers gathered along the "Canyon of Heroes" on Broadway for a public block party that stretched from Liberty Street to Murray Street. The public oath was administered by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a longtime political mentor of Mamdani. The event featured a keynote address by U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who praised Mamdani’s "unapologetic" commitment to affordability. The atmosphere was one of palpable optimism, with interfaith prayers and performances reflecting the diverse tapestry of the five boroughs.
A Bold First Day Agenda
Mayor Mamdani did not wait for the party to end to begin governing. Within hours of being sworn in, he announced his first major executive actions and cabinet appointments: Department of Transportation: He named Mike Flynn as the new DOT Commissioner, with an immediate mandate to expand the "Free Bus" pilot program citywide. Rent Freeze: True to his campaign promise, Mamdani signed an executive memorandum directing the Rent Guidelines Board to implement an immediate freeze on all rent stabilized apartments for the upcoming year. City Run Grocery Stores: He announced the first site for a municipal grocery store in a "food desert" in the South Bronx, aimed at lowering the cost of essential goods.
The "Trump Proof" Strategy
The inauguration comes at a time of significant tension between City Hall and the White House. While Mamdani and President Donald Trump held a surprisingly cordial meeting in late 2025, the new mayor used his inaugural address to reiterate his intent to "Trump proof" New York. He vowed to protect immigrant communities from federal raids and to maintain New York’s status as a "Sanctuary City," despite threats of federal funding cuts. "New York will not be a city of fear," Mamdani told the cheering crowd at City Hall Plaza. "We will be a city of light, a city of refuge, and a city where the person who cleans the office has the same dignity as the person who owns it."
From Queens Assemblyman to City Hall
Mamdani’s rise to power is nothing short of a political fairy tale. Just five years ago, he was a first time state assemblyman representing Astoria. His campaign, built on the "kitchen table" issues of rent, childcare, and groceries, galvanized a record-breaking 2 million voters in the 2025 election. By defeating Andrew Cuomo a titan of New York politics Mamdani proved that a democratic socialist platform could win in the nation's financial capital. As he moves from his one-bedroom rent stabilized apartment in Queens to Gracie Mansion, he carries the weight of high expectations from a young, diverse electorate