New Yorkers From Diverse Backgrounds Witness Historic Moment; Hopes for Affordability and Change
Five New Yorkers Witness History: Diverse Perspectives on Mamdani’s Inauguration
The inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor carried special significance for New Yorkers whose personal stories intertwined with the unlikely rise of the young democratic socialist. A taxi driver who had met Mamdani during a hunger strike years earlier, a campaign aide who had organized sparsely attended press conferences before the surge, a former city comptroller who narrowly missed his own chance at the mayor’s office, a health program manager from Brooklyn whose community had long struggled with affordability, and a conservative radio personality who had opposed Mamdani’s election all found themselves witnessing history on the steps of City Hall.
Their varied perspectives illuminate the deep currents running through New York City politics and the diverse coalition that propelled Mamdani to victory.
Kuber Sancho-Persad: The Taxi Driver’s Long Journey
Kuber Sancho-Persad had driven a yellow cab since 2014, continuing his father’s legacy as a medallion owner until his father’s death following a foreclosure notice in 2017. When he spotted the newly inaugurated Mayor Mamdani in his inaugural address calling out taxi drivers working night shifts at LaGuardia Airport, Sancho-Persad recognized himself in that reference.
He had met a young Assembly member named Zohran Mamdani years earlier during a hunger strike by taxi drivers fighting for medallion debt relief. The driver fit in really well with us, Sancho-Persad recalled, thinking at first that Mamdani was a fellow taxi worker rather than a politician.
From Campaign Stop to City Hall Victory
Sancho-Persad had helped organize a campaign stop at LaGuardia Airport in the final stretch of Mamdani’s primary campaign, bringing together fellow taxi workers to hear his message about affordability and workers’ rights. Now, with Mamdani inaugurated as mayor, he saw renewed hope for achieving medallion debt relief and the ability to own his own cab independently.
Andrew Epstein: The First Campaign Supporter
Andrew Epstein had been there from day one of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, serving as his first campaign spokesperson when the campaign had generated little fanfare. In the early months, Epstein recalled, long before the security detail and everything else, he and Mamdani would board the N or W train at different stops in Queens and meet at the front car, headed into the city for sparsely attended press conferences.
Now, despite having the day off from his work on the transition committee, Epstein sat in the freezing cold alongside his wife and mother, tearing up as Bernie Sanders administered Mamdani’s oath of office. It feels like the culmination of a campaign that was a love letter to the city, Epstein said.
Brad Lander: A Political Animal on the Next Chapter
Brad Lander, the now-former city comptroller, arrived at the inauguration without a security detail for the first time in four years. In an alternate timeline, Lander might have been sworn in as mayor himself, having also considered a bid for the office. Instead, he was pursuing a congressional race with Mamdani’s endorsement and the guidance of a new political strategist.
Lander appeared in good spirits despite the frigid temperatures, joking that the polar bear plunge in Coney Island would have been warmer. He acknowledged the importance of his earlier cross-endorsement deal with Mamdani in the Democratic primary, a political maneuver that helped keep former Governor Andrew Cuomo out of office.
Dena Cox: From Organic Activist to Believer in Change
Just one year earlier, Dena Cox had never heard of Zohran Mamdani. The 35-year-old health program manager employed by the city lived with her sister Ashley, a public school teacher, in Canarsie, Brooklyn, a community where the cost of living had been a longstanding fight for lifelong residents.
When videos of Mamdani speaking about affordability and politics as her generation discussed it began circulating on social media, Cox felt seen. He was somebody who was speaking about politics in the way that I and my friends speak about politics, Cox said, noting that Mamdani’s focus on making sure people who love New York and want to stay can afford to do so resonated deeply.
From Field Organizer to Witness to History
Believing in Mamdani’s vision, Cox spent hours upon hours speaking to fellow native New Yorkers about his message through a group called We Grew Here and later as a field lead for his campaign. What resonated most with Cox was the emotional tenor of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ speech and Mamdani’s obvious love for the city.
As a municipal worker, Cox would return to her job on Monday, but she felt renewed hope that she could work for a city doing excellence for its people. With Mamdani, she said, I’m hopeful I will.
Curtis Sliwa: The Loyal Opposition
In his trademark red beret, Curtis Sliwa, the former Republican mayoral candidate who had lost to Mamdani in November, stood out visibly in the crowd of Mamdani supporters. Supporters kept approaching him for selfies, and Sliwa was in his element, glad-handing and making small talk.
Though Sliwa represented a fundamentally different political ideology than Mamdani, the two shared a reputation for genuine care about New York City and its residents. Sliwa expressed genuine hope that Mamdani would succeed. He got a mandate, and more importantly, if he does well, the city does well, everybody does well, Sliwa said.
The Broader Significance of Five Stories
These five perspectives from New Yorkers across the political spectrum collectively illustrate how Mamdani’s election represented something unprecedented in New York City politics. Ballotpedia’s comprehensive election coverage documented how Mamdani built a coalition that surprised political observers.
New York’s Changing Politics and the Test Ahead
The varied New Yorkers who witnessed the inauguration embodied the city’s diversity and competing visions for its future. NYC.gov’s executive office will now work with Mamdani and his team to implement the policies that propelled him to office.
Brookings Institution provides policy research on the challenges of implementing progressive governance in complex urban environments. As Mamdani begins his tenure, he will need to deliver results for the taxi driver seeking medallion debt relief, the field organizer believing in systemic change, the former comptroller watching from the sidelines, the municipal worker seeking excellence in public service, and even the opposition candidate who, despite his political differences, genuinely hopes for the mayor’s success in improving New York City.
