By Ahmed Fathi
New York City: In bitter cold that plunged into the low 20s Fahrenheit, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in Thursday as New York City’s 112th mayor, sealing a dramatic political ascent that upended the city’s establishment and placed a self-described democratic socialist at the helm of the nation’s largest city.
Wrapped in heavy coats and scarves, tens of thousands of supporters crowded the streets around City Hall on New Year’s Day, enduring below-freezing temperatures for an inauguration that blended formal ceremony with the energy of a street rally. Music echoed through Lower Manhattan as attendees stamped their feet for warmth, waved signs and cheered as Mamdani pledged an assertive new era for City Hall.
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously,” Mamdani told the crowd, his breath visible in the icy air. “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
At 34, Mamdani becomes the first Muslim and the first person of South Asian descent to lead New York City. He was ceremonially sworn in on the steps of City Hall by Sen. Bernie Sanders, following an introduction by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mamdani had officially taken the oath shortly after midnight in a smaller, private ceremony with family members present.
A rally-like inauguration in the cold
Despite the frigid weather, the public ceremony unfolded more like a mass political rally than a traditional inauguration. Supporters danced to a soundtrack that mixed Jay-Z, Daddy Yankee, Bollywood hits and “New York, New York,” as city and borough flags snapped sharply in the wind.
Some attendees wore knit caps and jackets emblazoned with slogans such as “Tax the Rich,” reflecting Mamdani’s proposal to raise revenue by increasing taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations. Handmade signs and neon placards dotted the crowd, underscoring the movement-style campaign that propelled him to victory.
Mamdani’s rise stunned political observers. In 2025, he defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, reshaping the mayoral race around affordability, housing and public services at a moment of deep economic anxiety.
Progressive agenda draws national attention
In his inaugural address, Mamdani acknowledged that his administration would be closely watched far beyond city limits.
“They want to know if the left can govern,” he said. “They want to know if the struggles that afflict them can be solved. They want to know if it is right to hope again.”
His platform includes freezing rent for millions of tenants, expanding free bus service, creating universal childcare and sharply increasing the supply of publicly subsidized, rent-stabilized housing. Supporters say those proposals are long overdue in a city grappling with soaring rents and living costs. Critics argue the plans are fiscally risky as New York faces multibillion-dollar budget gaps in the coming years.
Sanders urged New Yorkers to remain engaged beyond inauguration day, saying Mamdani’s agenda was not radical but necessary. “In the richest country in the history of the world, making sure people can live in affordable housing is not radical,” Sanders said, drawing chants of “tax the rich” from the crowd as temperatures remained well below freezing.
Faith and symbolism at center stage
Mamdani’s Muslim faith featured prominently during the ceremonies. He took his oath on Qurans that belonged to family members, while Imam Khalid Latif delivered an invocation alongside representatives from multiple faith traditions.
“Never let him forget that this office exists to serve the people, not to rise above them,” Latif said in his prayer.
Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow democratic socialist, praised Mamdani’s focus on working-class New Yorkers, calling him “a mayor for all of us” and framing his victory as a rejection of “bigotry and extreme inequality.”
Challenges ahead
Mamdani succeeds former Mayor Eric Adams, whose single term was overshadowed by corruption investigations and internal turmoil. Adams attended the ceremony, standing quietly in the cold as his successor addressed the crowd.
The new mayor now faces the task of translating campaign promises into policy while confronting a difficult fiscal landscape, housing shortages and pressure on social services. His first preliminary budget, expected later this month, will offer an early test of how he plans to balance ambition with financial constraints.
As daylight faded and the cold deepened, supporters lingered near City Hall, warming their hands around coffee cups and taking photos to mark the moment.
“The work, my friends, has only just begun,” Mamdani told the crowd — a declaration met with cheers that cut through the winter air.
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Original URL: https://www.amerinews.tv/posts/breaking-barriers-in-freezing-weather-mamdani-becomes-nyc-s-first-muslim-mayor-video