Zohran Mamdani's first day as NYC mayor: subway rides, new offices, and Israel's backlash

Table of Contents

NEW YORK — Less than 24 hours after thousands of enthusiastic supporters flooded into Manhattan for his historic inauguration, Zohran Mamdani began his first full day of work with a routine that many New Yorkers know all too well: navigating the subway from a small apartment.

Dressed against the cold and seemingly battling a mild illness, he left his one-bedroom apartment in Queens on Friday morning, sharing the space with his wife. Unlike most commuters, however, his journey was captured by a camera crew and occasionally interrupted by neighbors offering well-wishes.

The 34-year-old democratic socialist, whose election was celebrated as a milestone for the progressive movement, has now embarked on the challenging task of leading the nation's largest city. This includes signing executive orders, announcing key appointments, addressing press inquiries, and justifying some of his initial actions.

But first, the symbolic first-day commute.

Flanked by security personnel and a small group of aides on a Manhattan-bound train, Mamdani agreed to several selfies with curious passengers, then moved to a corner seat to review his briefing materials.

When two French tourists, confused by the commotion, approached Mamdani, he introduced himself as "the new mayor of New York." They seemed skeptical. He held up the morning’s copy of the New York Daily News, which featured his smiling face, as evidence.

Mamdani, a Democrat, is not unique among city mayors in using public transit to project relatability. His predecessor, Eric Adams, also rode the subway on his first day, and both Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg frequently did so, especially when making a political statement.

Within minutes of Mamdani entering City Hall, the images of him riding public transit had gone viral on social media.

If the ride served as a well-timed photo opportunity, it also reflected Mamdani's pledge made in his inaugural speech: to ensure his "government looks and lives like the people it represents."

His other early actions have also emphasized this commitment.

Centering much of his campaign around reducing rent for New Yorkers, Mamdani quickly went from his inauguration ceremony on Thursday to a Brooklyn apartment building lobby, where he pledged to intensify the city’s legal battle against a landlord accused of negligence, drawing cheers from tenants.

Mamdani’s next move highlighted the intense scrutiny his administration is facing, particularly regarding his criticism of Israel and support for the Palestinian cause.

To establish a "clean slate" for his government, he revoked a series of executive orders issued by Adams late in his term, including two related to Israel: one that defined antisemitism in a way that included certain criticism of Israel, and another that prohibited city agencies and employees from boycotting or divesting from the country.

This decision sparked immediate backlash from some Jewish groups, with the Israeli government accusing Mamdani of fueling an "antisemitic fire" on social media.

When asked about the revoked orders on Friday, Mamdani read from prepared remarks, vowing that his administration would be "relentless in its effort to combat hate and division." He noted that he had kept the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism intact.

Mamdani also announced the creation of a "mass engagement" office, which he said would continue the work his campaign's field operation did to involve more New Yorkers in the political process.

Surrounded by supporters and passersby who lined up several rows deep, phones raised to capture a glimpse of the new mayor, Mamdani acknowledged the gravity of the moment.

"We have an opportunity where New Yorkers are allowing themselves to believe in the possibility of city government once again," he said. "That belief will not last without action."

Other tasks on Mamdani’s agenda include moving to the mayor’s official residence, a stately mansion in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, before the lease on his Queens apartment expires later this month.