Mamdani's pledge: To govern 'audaciously'
Mamdani, in his inaugural address, pledged to “govern expansively and audaciously."
"We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try," he said. "To those who insist the era of big government is over, hear me say this: ‘No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives.’”
The new mayor said working New Yorkers have dealt with crowded classrooms, roads riddled with potholes, and public housing developments where the elevators sit out of order.
But he said the city will now be measured by its agenda and how it solves the problems of working-class New Yorkers.
“City Hall will deliver an agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance, where government looks and lives like the people that it represents, never flinches against corporate greed and refuses to cower before the challenges that other have deemed too complicated,” he said. “And in doing so, we will provide an answer to that age-old question. Who does New York City belong to?... Together we will tell a new story.”
After his address, Mamdani embraced his wife, Rama Duwaji, as confetti shot into the air.
The couple then greeted Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Sen. Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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