So here we are, Zohran Mamdani has been sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor (there was a bit of a miscount so Mamdani will be the 112th and not the 111th mayor as originally expected). Fortune indeed favors the bold. This time last year, Mamdani was barely polling at 5%. His campaign inspired New Yorkers and introduced many to the world of politics and possibility. With a consistent message, Mamdani was able to beat out several talented and veteran politicians to win an election that saw record turnout. And now the hard part begins.
Campaigning is one thing, governance is something entirely different. So far, I am optimistic about Mamdani’s picks for School Chancellor (Kamar Samuels), Transportation Commissioner (Mike Flynn), and FDNY Commissioner (Lillian Bonsignore). Mamdani has chosen to keep Jessica Tisch as NYPD Commissioner, a move that has disappointed some and made others feel much more comfortable about a centrist in that role. There will be many more appointments to come, but it is refreshing thus far seeing a mix of veteran public servants and newly appointed individuals in these important roles, working together to help NYC think through its 21st century vision.
We are now one full quarter into the 21st century (if you can believe it) and the leadership of NYC will need to focus on rebuilding trust in our government leaders as well as presenting a bold vision for the future. Mamdani has made it clear that he intends to dream big and bristles at the thought of reverting back to the status quo. Because of this large forward-thinking view of NYC, many have thought him to be a possible Fiorello La Guardia 2.0.
Many of Mamdani’s proposals have steep price tags and he will need the fiscal support from Albany and Washington, D.C. Governor Kathy Hochul is in an election year and has many reasons to want to support certain Mamdani proposals to galvanize his robust base for her primary in June and her general election in November. Obviously negotiating with the president does not have a clear road map as he grows more erratic by the day. However, Mamdani has surrounded himself with policy professionals who know D.C., Wall Street, the president’s emotional leanings, as well as city governance. This type of team (if Mamdani continues to rely on their sage counsel) will serve the residents of New York quite well.
I am rooting for Mayor Mamdani, just as I was rooting for Mayor Adams (sigh) and all mayors before him. We have many speed bumps ahead ranging from housing crises to domestic and international terror threats to unemployment to funding from the federal government. It is my sincere hope that Mamdani will remain the happy warrior who seeks to bring all New Yorkers to the table.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.