Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani had a whirlwind day in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Waking up early to greet hotel workers alongside the powerful Hotel and Gaming Trades Council president Rich Maroko, Mamdani told NY1 in an exclusive television interview that he spoke to Mayor Eric Adams about his transition into City Hall.
What You Need To Know
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- Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, visited a mosque Friday, participating in afternoon prayers and handing out food at its soup kitchen
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- The mayor-elect was asked about comments Gov. Kathy Hochul made Thursday in San Juan, throwing cold water on the notion that democratic socialism is the future of the Democratic Party
- City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said that although Mamdani has not yet called her about staying on as the head of the nation’s largest public school system, she likes elements of his plan to change mayoral control
“I appreciated the conversation that I had with Mayor Adams and what I look forward to as a smooth transition. One that ensures that we are able to deliver for New Yorkers on Jan. 1, and I’m confident that will be the case over the next 50 odd days or so,” he told NY1.
Then, weighing in on a report detailing how NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reacted to ICE agents in the five boroughs and how he would instruct her if he was her boss.
“What I will continue to do is [to] be someone who will stand up for New Yorkers when Donald Trump is seeking to fulfill his promise to create the single-largest deportation force in American history. And my NYPD will continue to not be of assistance to ICE whenever they are trying to terrorize New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” he said.
Mamdani, who would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, then visited a mosque.
While he was participating in Friday afternoon prayers and handing out food at the center’s soup kitchen, Mamdani was asked about comments Gov. Kathy Hochul made Thursday in San Juan, throwing cold water on the notion that democratic socialism is the future of the Democratic Party.
“I think that what we saw on Tuesday was that Democrats across the party won, and they won by showcasing not only the importance of a big tent that we have but also the importance of focusing on affordability,” he said.
He was also asked whether her affiliation with him and his bid to raise taxes would hurt her reelection bid.
“I think what we see is an unparalleled excitement and finally, putting forward an affirmative vision, this affordability agenda and the necessity of funding that agenda. I think these are two tax proposals that make sense. And as you said, I’m also open to any proposal that would fund it,” he said.
Mamdani then mingled with powerbrokers at a reception organized by legislative leaders.
NY1 also caught up with City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. She said Mamdani has not yet called her about staying on as the head of the nation’s largest public school system.
“We have not spoken about what’s going to happen after Jan. 1. But again, I’m a New Yorker. I’m a New York City public school mom. It’s important to me that the system runs well,” she said.
When asked if she agrees with Mamdani’s bid to dismantle mayoral control, she said there are parts that have worked under the system and others that need to be reformed.
“I think about all of the things that we’ve been able to accomplish under mayoral control. Literacy and math scores are up because we were able to implement a core curriculum across all of our districts. That’s something that you can’t do without mayoral control. But I do think that we need to really strengthen our relationship with the Panel for Educational Policy,” Aviles-Ramos added.
