Mamdani takes office and must now try to deliver on his boldest promises

Zohran Mamdani became the mayor of New York City early Thursday at a small ceremony in a decommissioned Gilded Age-era subway station—a location he chose as a testament to the city’s history of building great things to transform the lives of working people.

- James Fanelli [e-mail]

The 34-year-old democratic socialist took the oath of office administered by New York state Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally. The ceremony was held under the grand tiled arches of the station beneath City Hall.

“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said just after midnight, with his wife by his side. A bigger inauguration ceremony is scheduled for Thursday afternoon on the steps of City Hall, as well as an outdoor party along several blocks of Broadway in lower Manhattan. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the celebration, according to his advisers.

Mamdani, New York’s youngest mayor in more than 100 years, takes office laden with expectations that he can bring relief from the city’s high cost of living—along with concerns from business leaders that his untested policies could cripple the economy and lead to a resurgence in crime.

New Yorkers swept Mamdani into office on the basis of an ambitious affordability agenda that includes curbing soaring rents, expanding free child care and creating a free bus system. He will have a short runway to show people he is on the path to achieving results.

“You are given about a week to deliver,” said Andrea Hagelgans, a former senior adviser to Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We have no patience as New Yorkers.”