Who Controls the Transition Reveals Where Power Actually Resides
Democracy or Technocracy: The Transition Process Matters
Opacity and Community Exclusion
Reporting revealed that Mamdani’s transition team instructed members to avoid media engagement while restricting public information about personnel selection processes. This reflects technocratic governance models where expertise and insider connections determine outcomes rather than community deliberation. During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to democratize decision-making; the secretive transition process contradicts this commitment. A truly accountable transition would involve public forums where communities propose candidates, questions are answered transparently, and deliberation shapes outcomes. Instead, Mamdani’s team replicated standard insider-driven processes.
Implications for Governance
Transition processes shape entire administrations; closed transitions produce unaccountable governments. Mamdani should open the remaining appointment process, conduct public hearings, and incorporate community input into major selections. This would honor campaign commitments and build political base invested in administration success. (Sources: Chalkbeat, media reporting, transition team communications)
