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Mamdani Takes Oath at Midnight in City Hall Subway to Begin Term as New York Mayor

The 34-year-old socialist launches an affordability agenda facing procedural hurdles.

Overview

  • He was sworn in shortly after midnight in a decommissioned station beneath City Hall before Attorney General Letitia James in a broadcast, invitation-only ceremony.
  • A larger public inauguration is scheduled for January 1 at midday outside City Hall led by Senator Bernie Sanders, with tens of thousands expected and a street festival planned.
  • He has proposed a rent freeze for more than one million apartments, 200,000 affordable homes, free childcare and buses, and public supermarkets funded by higher taxes on the wealthy and businesses.
  • Key elements could stall in a committee stocked with allies of outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, implementation details remain unclear, and Governor Kathy Hochul is described as supportive.
  • At 34, he is relying on veterans from past mayoralties and Biden’s team, courting business and Jewish community leaders after a staffer resigned over years-old antisemitic tweets, and balancing a tense relationship with President Trump despite a conciliatory November meeting.