Zohran Mamdani sworn in as mayor of New York City

"This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime, Mamdani said. I cannot wait to see everyone tomorrow as we begin our term. After just having taken my oath to become the mayor of the city of New York, I do so also here in the old City Hall subway station a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, the legacy of our city."

"To honor his Muslim faith, Mamdani was sworn in using a Qur'an, Islam's holiest book, becoming the first mayor in New York City to do so. He was sworn in at midnight with his hand on his grandfather's Qur'an and one that belonged to Arturo Schomburg, a Black writer and historian, which was lent to the mayor by the New York public library, according to the New York Times."

"Mamdani then announced and welcomed a new transportation commissioner for the city, Mike Flynn, a veteran city planner, with the mayor saying he wanted to make New York's public transit network the envy of the world. Flynn said he was accepting the job of a lifetime. Thank you all so much and I will see you later, Mamdani concluded, to audience laughter, before departing up the wide subway stairs where he took the oath, followed by attendees."

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City shortly after midnight in a private ceremony held in the abandoned City Hall beaux-arts subway station, attended by family, wife Rama Duwaji, and public figures including his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani. New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath. Mamdani used his grandfather's Qur'an and a Qur'an belonging to Arturo Schomburg, becoming the first New York City mayor sworn in with a Qur'an. He announced Mike Flynn as transportation commissioner and pledged to make the city's public transit network globally exemplary. A public swearing-in and block party were planned.

Read at www.theguardian.com