Inauguration
It has just been over two weeks since Zohran Mamdani assumed office as the mayor of New York City. In this short timespan, he has already accomplished a lot and delivered on many of his campaign promises. The thirty-four year old Mamdani took his oath at 12:01 AM on January 1st in an abandoned City Hall subway station. He was sworn in with a Quran belonging to the late Arturo Schomburg, a black historian and activist who played a prominent role in preserving the history of Black Americans, an act that not only reflected his Muslim faith, but also his dedication toward recognizing the diverse and interwoven histories of the people of New York.
New Beginnings
One of Mamdani’s first acts as mayor was to revoke all Executive Orders signed by the previous mayor (Eric Adams) after his indictment in late 2024. Mamdani called it “de-corrupting the City Hall”, arguing that laws passed and government actions taken during this time were “politically compromised” and did not serve the best interests of the people.
Rather than taking the Mayoral motorcade, Mamdani publicly took the train to work, demonstrating that the new mayor lived like an ordinary New Yorker. He took advantage of this time to talk to MTA workers and riders. This act of humility, especially when compared to the lavish political dinners of Eric Adams, shows Mamdani’s commitment to the people of New York.
Mamdani also made several high profile appointments, hiring leaders with proven track records in social justice, rather than corporate leaders. In fact, many of these new leaders have spent their lives fighting the very agencies that they now lead. Notably, he appointed Cea Weaver, a tenant organizer who helped pass the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, to the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.
Housing, Affordability, and Quality of Life
Mamdani also worked to deliver on many of his Housing and Affordability promises that defined his campaign. On January 6th, he created the “LIFT” Task Force, aimed at providing new affordable housing on city-owned properties. The city’s plan identifies vacant lots, garages, and buildings to convert new housing developments, aiming to expand the housing supply and improve affordability.
On January 8th, Mamdani delivered on one of his biggest campaign promises — childcare. In partnership with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Mamdani launched a free universal childcare program for all children under the age of two. Mamdani framed childcare as a public utility like a subway or the library, rather than a privilege.
On January 9th, Mamdani launched opportunities for residents to “air out” any of the complaints they had against their landlords. This initiative serves to protect tenants from the unjust treatment that many receive from their housing provider.
On January 11th, Mamdani’s government announced a $4 million project aimed at reopening 50 public bathrooms in subways at parks. This would help satisfy the basic human needs of all New Yorkers, including homeless people.
On January 14, Mamdani signed a protection bill against big tech apps such as Doordash and Uber Eats. This bill intends to protect workers from arbitrary firings and ensure fair wage payouts. Moreover, it serves to regulate some of the deceptive business practices that many of these companies implement.
Mamdani also announced a multi-million dollar lawsuit against A&E Real Estate for thousands of health violations, promising a “zero-tolerance” policy for unsafe housing and shady business practices. On January 16th, a 2.1 million dollar settlement with A&E Real Estate was reached. This move might be an indication of the future housing policies of Mamdani’s administration.
Moving Forward
In just two weeks as mayor, Zohran Mamdani has already made major housing, childcare, and infrastructure reforms. Mamdani ran for mayor on a platform aimed at improving the lives of everyday New Yorkers. So far, he has delivered greatly, and many are keen to see the upcoming initiatives of this administration.
