Freshly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wasted little time putting his stamp on City Hall, signing a slate of executive orders on his first day in office that underscored a sharp break from his predecessor and an unapologetic embrace of his democratic socialist ideology.
Among Mamdani’s first actions Thursday was an executive order revoking most directives issued by former Mayor Eric Adams after Sept. 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges. Speaking at City Hall, Mamdani framed the move as a symbolic reset, arguing that public trust in politics had eroded long before his election.
“We speak about this day as a new era,” Mamdani said, adding that New Yorkers had grown disillusioned with politics over months, years and even decades. He pointed directly to the date of Adams’ indictment as a turning point, saying it marked a moment when many residents concluded politics “held nothing for them.”
Adams made history as the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted, accused of taking money from Turkey in exchange for helping facilitate a Turkish consulate in the city. That case was later dropped by the Justice Department in February, early in President Donald Trump’s second term. The decision sparked intense backlash from Democrats, who alleged corruption and favoritism, and led to a series of resignations from prosecutors who had worked on the case. One departing prosecutor wrote that Adams was being “rewarded” for what was described as an improper offer of immigration enforcement assistance in exchange for dismissal.
Mamdani made clear that his administration intends to chart a very different course. “The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations,” he said, pledging to govern “expansively and audaciously.” While acknowledging that his agenda may not always succeed, Mamdani insisted his administration would not be accused of lacking courage.
Housing policy featured prominently in the mayor’s first-day actions. Mamdani signed three executive orders aimed at addressing New York City’s long-running housing crisis. Two of those orders establish new task forces — Land Inventory Fast Track and Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development — designed to speed up housing development across the city.
In another personnel move, Mamdani appointed Cea Weaver as director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, an office that will focus on safeguarding tenants’ rights. The appointment signals a clear priority for tenant advocacy as the administration looks to reshape housing policy.
Mamdani also signed an order limiting his administration to five deputy mayors, fewer than under the previous mayor, suggesting a more centralized leadership structure.
Throughout his remarks, Mamdani leaned into the ideological label that has drawn both enthusiastic support and sharp criticism. “We will govern without shame and insecurity, making no apology for what we believe,” he said. He emphasized that voters elected him as a democratic socialist and said he has no intention of backing away from that identity.
“I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” Mamdani said. “I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.”
His first day in office made clear that New York City is entering a new and ideologically charged chapter, one that is likely to fuel fierce debate over the direction of the nation’s largest city.
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