Twenty-five years after radical Islamists brought down the Twin Towers, New York City has a mayor who took his oath of office with his hand on the Quran. It’s tough to wrap my head around this fact. It makes me cringe, to be honest. Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist and immigrant from Uganda, was sworn in just after midnight on January 1 in a private ceremony at the old City Hall subway station, as the first Muslim mayor in NYC history.
"This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said in brief remarks after taking the oath. He went on to describe the old City Hall station as a "testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, and the legacy of our city.”
Mamdani participated in a second, larger swearing-in ceremony at City Hall at 1 p.m., where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of his political heroes, officiated. Following the public ceremony, his office planned a public block party on a section of Broadway known as the "Canyon of Heroes," the stretch famous for New York's ticker-tape parades. It’s like the city celebrating its own demise.
I haven't been to New York City in years. The last time I was there was probably about 13 years ago for a wedding. Before that, I was there for a protest, a short day trip, and, of course, during the 2004 Republican National Convention. Now that Mamdani has been sworn in, it's going to be at least four years before I can even consider going back, perhaps more.
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The next four years will tell us a lot about New York. Voters who were blinded by rhetoric about affordability and the opportunity to prove their anti-racist bona fides by voting for an Islamic mayor might see the error of their ways. But when have we ever seen a deep blue city do that?
We know what’s going to happen. Wealthy residents were already seeking an exit strategy before Mamdani was even elected. The poor will be happy if they get the subsidies and government handouts they were promised, but the middle class will bear the brunt of Mamdani's policies. The question is whether they will learn from their mistake. Sadly, I’d put my money on them continuing to vote for the guy anyway.
I guess we’ll find out in four years. Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport says he plans to run for mayor of New York City in 2029, and he’s already unloading on Mamdani, so at least that will be interesting.
“Come 2029, there’s gonna be a lot of fing problems for Zohran the Moron,” Rapaport said on his podcast earlier this week. “Bulls—t artist, Zohran the Moron. I cannot believe this guy will be becoming Mayor of New York City in a couple of days—in my city, New York City.”
He added, “I am coming to take back New York City from him and his entire cabinet of bulls—t artists.”
Will enough voters see through Mamdani’s facade and realize how dangerous he really is? Let’s hope. If NYC voters aren’t smart enough to get rid of Mamdani after four years, then there’s no reason to believe NYC won’t keep digging itself deeper and deeper into the hole it’s digging now.
