Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and a Muslim who was elected in last year's New York mayoral race, took office on the 1st, the first day of the new year, local time.
According to CNN and other outlets, Mamdani held his swearing-in ceremony after midnight on the staircase of the closed former New York City Hall subway station, presided over by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Mamdani took office as the 112th mayor of New York at 12:01 a.m. that day for a four-year term.
Mamdani took the oath with his left hand on the Quran, the Islamic holy book, held with both hands by his wife, Rama Duwaji, and his right hand raised. As Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor, this was the first time the Quran was used at a New York mayoral inauguration.
The former City Hall subway station where the oath was held is regarded as one of the 28 stations that opened in 1904 and ushered in a new era of innovation and growth for New York City as its first subway stations. Since its closure in 1945, it has been open to the public only during guided tours.
Mamdani described the station as "proof of the importance of public transit to our city's vitality, health, and heritage." He then said he would appoint Michael Flynn, a longtime urban planning expert, as the next Director General of the New York City Department of Transportation.
The official inauguration is scheduled for 1 p.m. in front of City Hall, with about 4,000 people, including prominent progressives, expected to attend. At the ceremony, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will introduce Mamdani, and Sen. Bernie Sanders will administer the oath of office.