Democrat Zohran Mamdani officially took office as New York City’s mayor on Thursday, beginning his term with a public swearing-in ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
Mamdani, 34, the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor and first immigrant to hold the office in half a century, pledged to focus on cost-of-living issues and a liberal policy agenda. He is a member of the Democratic Party’s left-wing socialist faction.
The public ceremony on the steps of City Hall included thousands of attendees along a stretch of Broadway, with music, performances, and interfaith elements. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders presided over the swearing-in, praising Mamdani’s campaign and urging New Yorkers to “stand up” to achieve change. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the historic nature of Mamdani’s election, describing it as “a new era for New York City” and emphasising his focus on affordability.
Mamdani took the oath of office on the Quran, administered by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, following a symbolic private swearing-in at Manhattan’s Old City Hall subway station just after midnight.
During the ceremony, Mamdani outlined key policy priorities, including universal childcare, rent stabilization, and expanded public transit, saying he would govern as a democratic socialist while protecting all New Yorkers.
He emphasised inclusivity, noting the city’s diversity: residents speak Pashto, Mandarin, Yiddish, Creole, and worship across mosques, synagogues, churches, gurdwaras, and temples.
The ceremony coincided with the swearing-in of Mark Levine as New York City Comptroller and Jumaane Williams as Public Advocate.
Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian immigrant parents and moved to New York at age seven. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He previously represented parts of Queens in the New York State Assembly after winning election in 2020.
He defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November 4 mayoral election, marking a significant victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
During his campaign, Mamdani pledged free public buses, city-run grocery stores, rent-stabilised housing, and a minimum wage increase to $30 per hour by 2030.
Space-agency chiefs and industry leaders met to discuss lunar exploration, satellite networks and orbital security on Tuesday as a major global spa...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had b...
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday...
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Space-agency chiefs and industry leaders met to discuss lunar exploration, satellite networks and orbital security on Tuesday as a major global space congress entered its second day.
Police fired tear gas at protesters blockading French high schools on Tuesday as students, teachers and parents took to the streets on the biggest day of action in a wave of demonstrations against understaffed and dilapidated classrooms.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died in Nairobi, prompting health authorities to launch an urgent contact-tracing operation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment