Housing has been central to that affordability message for Mamdani, and one of his signature campaign promises was to freeze the rent on the city’s rental-stabilized apartments. It represents about half of the city’s rental housing stock.
“Those in rent-stabilised homes will no longer dread the latest rent hike – because we will freeze the rent,” Mamdani said in his remarks.
Only hours later, Mamdani introduced a slate of executive orders all aimed at housing.
“On the first day of this new administration, on the day when so many rent payments are due, we will not wait to deliver action,” Mamdani said at a news conference.
He announced three executive orders inside a rent-stabilised building in Brooklyn, including the creation of two new city task forces on housing policy: one to take inventory of city-owned land that could be used for housing, and another to identify ways to spur development.
“The housing crisis is at the centre of our affordability crisis. There are a number of things we are going to be focused on: protecting tenants, going after bad landlords, and building more housing. A huge part of how we get out of our housing crisis is to build more affordable housing across the city,” Leila Bozorg, the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, told Al Jazeera on the steps of City Hall hours before announcing the new policies.
Sprawling crowds, chants of “tax the rich,” and a seven-block-long public celebration marked Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration as New York City mayor on Thursday, as the city welcomed the new year under new leadership. Unlike traditional, tightly managed political ceremonies, Mamdani’s swearing-in reflected the grassroots style that defined his campaign.
Shortly after midnight, as 2026 began, Mamdani took the oath of office in a small, symbolic ceremony at the historic City Hall subway station. New York State Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath as Mamdani stood beside his wife, Rama Duwaji. He used a historic Quran from the New York Public Library, along with another that belonged to his grandfather, underscoring the personal and cultural significance of the moment.
Later on New Year’s Day, the public celebration unfolded on the steps of City Hall. Despite freezing temperatures and recent snowfall, tens of thousands of supporters filled the surrounding plaza and nearby streets. Mamdani repeated the oath alongside newly sworn-in city officials, including Comptroller Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
National political figures, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, joined the ceremony and delivered speeches highlighting the broader implications of Mamdani’s victory. Sanders told the crowd that unity among working people could overcome entrenched economic inequality, drawing loud applause.
Meanwhile, the city hosted an unprecedented seven-block-long block party, opening an inauguration event that is typically restricted to invited guests. Although security checkpoints limited access, many New Yorkers waited for hours in hopes of witnessing the ceremony through large outdoor screens.
Supporters described the celebration as inclusive and energizing, while a small group of protesters gathered behind police barriers. Democratic strategist Nomiki Konst said the open format symbolized Mamdani’s effort to engage residents who often feel excluded from political processes.
Consequently, Mamdani’s inauguration set a tone that blended celebration with political messaging. As he begins his term, the event signaled both a departure from convention and the rising influence of progressive politics in America’s largest city.
