Mayor Zohran Mamdani defiantly vows to stick to socialist agenda in fiery inauguration speech
Caroline MolloyMayor Zohran Mamdani will govern “expansively and audaciously,” he said — vowing to stick to his sweeping socialist agenda and bring back “the era of big government” in a fiery speech at his public inauguration ceremony Thursday.
The far-left pol — who went from a backbencher Queens state assemblyman to the most powerful official in New York City — defiantly stood by his promise to tax the rich as he addressed several thousand onlookers from the steps of City Hall.
“I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” he told the packed crowd of several thousand on a frigid New Year’s Day.
“I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.”
Mamdani, 34, said he would refuse to “reset expectations” for what the government should do for its citizens, repeating his campaign promises to provide free buses, universal childcare and a rent-freeze on rent-stabilized apartments.
“The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations,” he said during his roughly 30-minute remarks.
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously.”
The new mayor’s road to election victory — beating establishment figures, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — was paved by offering up the more than $10 billion freebie-filled agenda, which he claimed would be paid for by hiking taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations.
