We will not wait: Mamdani starts housing push
Breaking tradition, New York’s new mayor was welcomed by massive crowds and a public party during the inaugural ceremony.
New York, United States – Sprawling crowds, a seven-block-long street celebration and chants of “tax the rich” echoed through the world’s wealthiest city as Zohran Mamdani marked his public inauguration as New York City’s mayor on Thursday. As fireworks dusted the skyline and a new calendar year began, the metropolis ushered in not just 2026, but a strikingly different style of leadership.
Political inaugurations in New York are typically restrained, ceremonial and tightly managed. Mamdani, however, has never been a conventional politician. From the moment he launched his mayoral campaign, the 33-year-old progressive promised to govern differently — and his swearing-in events reflected that pledge in both tone and substance.
The first act unfolded quietly just after midnight on New Year’s Eve. As the ball dropped in Times Square and crowds celebrated across the city, Mamdani took the oath of office in a modest ceremony at the historic City Hall subway station. The underground landmark, closed to passengers since 1945, provided a symbolic backdrop — a reminder of the city’s layered past and the renewal he has promised.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath as Mamdani stood beside his wife, artist Rama Duwaji. In a moment that blended personal history with civic duty, Mamdani placed his hand on two Qurans: one borrowed from the New York Public Library and another that once belonged to his grandfather. The choice underscored his identity as the city’s first Muslim mayor and reflected his emphasis on inclusion and representation.
The larger, public celebration came hours later on New Year’s Day. Despite biting winds, snowfall from the night before and temperatures hovering well below freezing, tens of thousands of New Yorkers poured into Lower Manhattan. The crowd spilled across City Hall Park, packed surrounding streets and stretched far beyond the barricades.
On the steps of City Hall, Mamdani repeated the oath of office alongside newly sworn-in city officials, including Comptroller Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Cheers rippled through the crowd as the new mayor raised his hand, formally assuming leadership of a city grappling with housing shortages, economic inequality and strained public services.
Flanked by national political heavyweights, Mamdani’s inauguration carried significance beyond city limits. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont addressed the crowd, framing Mamdani’s victory as part of a broader progressive surge with implications for state and national politics. Their speeches drew applause as they spoke of economic justice, affordable housing and taxing extreme wealth to fund public needs.
The most visible break from tradition came not on the steps of City Hall, but in the streets surrounding it. Instead of a strictly ticketed ceremony, the city hosted a seven-block-long public block party — a rare move for an inauguration. Music, chants and impromptu speeches filled the air as supporters danced, waved signs and posed for photos amid bundled coats and scarves.
While a closed ceremony inside City Hall limited attendance to a few thousand invited guests, the outdoor celebration was open to anyone willing to RSVP and brave the cold. For many attendees, the frigid weather only heightened the sense of camaraderie. Strangers shared hot drinks, huddled together for warmth and talked excitedly about what Mamdani’s leadership might bring.
In his public remarks, Mamdani struck a hopeful but urgent tone. He spoke of a city that works for working people, vowed to confront the housing crisis head-on and promised not to wait for political permission to act. The chants from the crowd — demanding fairness, dignity and bold reform — seemed to reinforce his message.
As daylight faded over Lower Manhattan, the celebration continued, blending civic ritual with grassroots energy. For supporters, the day felt less like a formal transfer of power and more like a collective declaration. New York had not just sworn in a new mayor; it had embraced a new chapter — one written in the streets, shaped by the crowd and driven by the promise of change.