Zohran Mamdani Sworn In as New York City's 111th Mayor, Unveils Progressive Policy Agenda
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 111th mayor, becoming the city's first Muslim mayor and first Democratic socialist to hold the office. The swearing-in ceremony took place beneath City Hall in a disused subway station, officiated by Letitia James, and was followed by a public block party along Broadway's Canyon of Heroes.
Mamdani's transition team has appointed over 400 advisers, focusing on delivering affordability and economic rights for New Yorkers. His rent policy includes a pledge to freeze rent increases through the rent guidelines board and aims to triple the production of permanently affordable, rent-stabilized homes to 200,000 units over the next decade. The administration also plans to crack down on negligent landlords.
A new Department of Community Safety will adopt a public-health approach to crises, including potentially sending civilian mental health workers instead of police officers. Affordability initiatives will feature municipal grocery stores selling at wholesale prices, elimination of bus fares on all city buses, construction of new bus lanes, and a ban on hidden fees and predatory contracts. Mike Flynn has been appointed transportation secretary.
In childcare and education, the plan includes free childcare for children from six weeks to five years, provision of essential goods for new mothers, and expanding K-12 services.
To counter federal opposition, the new administration intends to "Trump-proof" New York City by strengthening its sanctuary-city status, removing ICE from city facilities, ending cooperation with ICE, and expanding immigration legal services to approximately 400,000 New Yorkers at risk of deportation.
The financing for these programs, estimated to cost about $10 billion annually, will come from tax increases, including raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%, generating around $5 billion, and increasing the top 1% income tax by 2%, yielding about $4 billion. Additionally, Mamdani has pledged to raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030.
