Private Ceremony at 1904 Subway Station Sets Stage for Public Celebration
Where Public Service Began a Century Ago
Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office at midnight on New Year’s Day in the decommissioned Old City Hall subway station, a historic transit hub that opened in 1904 as one of the city’s original 28 stations before closing in 1945. The station is now accessible only through guided tours, making it a rare and significant choice for the mayoral oath. The station opening in 1904 represented the ambitions of a city that dared to build great public infrastructure transforming working people’s lives. Mamdani said that the old subway station was a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city.” The choice of venue reflected Mamdani’s core political message about the need to invest in infrastructure and public services that make the city more affordable and accessible to working New Yorkers.
Administered by Attorney General Letitia James
The private ceremony was administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Mamdani’s political ally and a significant figure in New York Democratic politics. The ceremony was surrounded by just his family, keeping the moment intimate despite the historic significance. In his first speech as mayor, Mamdani announced the appointment of Mike Flynn as his new Department of Transportation commissioner, symbolizing his commitment to making transportation a central focus of his administration. Mamdani said: “Thank you all so much, now I will see you later,” before heading up a flight of stairs from the historic station, departing from the subway that had represented a century of public transit service.
The Qurans in History
Mamdani placed his hand on his grandfather’s Quran during the ceremony, along with a pocket-sized version dating to the late 18th or early 19th century. Following the inauguration, the historic Quran was placed on public display at the New York Public Library. Scholars hope the attention surrounding the ceremony will prompt more people to explore the library’s collections documenting Islamic life in New York, ranging from early 20th century Armenian and Arabic music recorded in the city to firsthand accounts of Islamophobia after the September 11 attacks. One scholar working with Mamdani’s team emphasized that the original Quran “was meant to be used by ordinary readers when it was produced. Today it lives in a public library where anyone can encounter it.” This shift from private religious practice to public historical artifact demonstrates how Mamdani’s inauguration celebrates both personal faith and civic inclusion.
