New mayor vows to 'hit ground running'

NEWLY-ELECTED New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he will begin preparing to implement his affordability agenda, while also seeking to persuade sceptical New Yorkers that “no matter what your politics, we're all facing the same issues”.

- JILL COLVIN Associated Press

“We owe it to this city to be ready on January | to start delivering” Mr Mamdani said in his first television interview since claiming victory in New York City’s mayoral election.

“We have 57 days and those are 57 days to start to do the work of preparing for January 1 to hit the ground running”

“I’m looking forward to delivering a city where New Yorkers can expect more from their leaders,’ he added.

With his win over former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, the 34-year-old democratic socialist will soon become the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage, the first born in Africa and the youngest mayor in more than a century.