Zohran Mamdani, 34, was elected New York’s first Muslim mayor. The iconic Bollywood song “Dhoom Machale” filled the air as Mamdani, who will also be New York’s youngest and first African-born mayor, finished his victory speech on Tuesday, November 4 at Zohran headquarters.
Now that Mamdani has made history by winning 50.4% of the vote, what are the challenges ahead for him as mayor of New York? What are his duties, responsibilities? We’ll see.
What does the mayor of New York do?
The mayor of New York serves as the city’s chief executive officer, operating from City Hall with jurisdiction over all five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.
From overseeing a workforce of more than 300,000 employees and managing a budget exceeding $120 billion, New York City’s mayor wields enormous power, JC Polanco, a political expert and professor at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, told CBS. He said that’s a lot of power considering New York is in the top 10 in the world.
What are the responsibilities of the mayor of New York?
From preparing and managing the New York City budget to appointing vice mayors and other key officials, the mayor’s responsibilities vary across the financial to legislative sectors.
The mayor’s primary responsibility is to prepare and manage the city budget — the largest municipal budget in the United States, currently about $112.4 billion, according to the New York state comptroller. This includes planning for revenue sources such as taxes and prioritizing spending.
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Although the mayor has broad budgetary powers, he cannot raise taxes on his own and must obtain approval from the New York State Legislature in Albany. This often requires lobbying both legislators and the governor for support.
What challenges might Zohran Mamdani face?
According to the BBC, Zohran Mamdani entered the mayoral race last year with little to no name recognition, little money and no institutional party support — making his victory remarkable. Add to that his victory against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — a former governor of New York who is himself the son of a governor.
Given Mamdani’s remarkable victory, critics have warned that his successes and failures will be closely scrutinized.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, has already said she opposes the tax increases necessary to fund Mamdami’s ambitious agenda. And even with sufficient funds, Mamdani would not be able to implement the programs unilaterally, the BBC report mentioned.
Mamdani has also previously condemned Israel’s conduct during the Gaza war and vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal if he enters New York — a pledge that could reportedly be tested sometime during his term.
What is Zohran Mamdani’s tenure?
The mayor of New York serves a four-year term, limited to two consecutive terms, although he can seek a third term after a recess.
Zohran Mamdani wife, family
Born in 1991 in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani.
Zohran Mamdani is married to Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist from Brooklyn who met the New York mayor-elect on Hinge.
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