As the world watches the iconic ball drop in Times Square, New York City will witness a profoundly different kind of New Year's Eve celebration this year. The city's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, has announced he will forgo the glitz of the surface for the historic depths below, choosing to be sworn into office at midnight in an abandoned Gilded Age subway station beneath City Hall.
A Symbolic Descent for a New Beginning
The 34-year-old politician plans to take his oath of office on 31 December in the disused City Hall station, which currently acts as a turnaround for the local 5 train. Mamdani described this highly unusual venue as symbolically resonant, marking the "inauguration of a new era" for the metropolis.
In a statement, he reflected on the station's legacy, calling it a "physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples’ lives." He argued that such ambition should not be confined to history books or forgotten tunnels, but must become the guiding purpose of his administration serving from the building above.
The station itself is a piece of living history. First opened in 1904 as one of the city's 28 original stations, it was decommissioned in 1945 as the system modernised. Its architectural significance was later recognised when it was designated a New York City landmark in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Political Fanfare and Notable Absences
The ceremony will be administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who endorsed the subway location. She called the transit system the "great equalizer" of New Yorkers, a place where all citizens, regardless of background, travel side by side.
However, the guest list for the underground event appears selective. To date, only one former mayor, the progressive Democrat Bill de Blasio, has confirmed his attendance. Former mayors Mike Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani have not publicly confirmed, while the outgoing centrist Democrat mayor, Eric Adams, has left his plans ambiguous.
At a press conference, Adams remarked he wanted to ensure he wouldn't "disrupt his day," in an apparent reference to potential protests from some of Mamdani's supporters. Mamdani has since stated his predecessor is "still welcome to my inauguration."
The underground ceremony will be followed by a more public event on the steps of City Hall later on New Year's Day, where Mamdani will be sworn in again by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. The day will culminate in a block party up Broadway.
Controversial Appointments and Predecessor's Moves
The transition period has not been without friction. Tech billionaire Elon Musk publicly criticised Mamdani's choice to lead the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), Lillian Bonsignore. Musk posted on X that "proven experience matters when lives are at stake," referencing Bonsignore's 30-year background in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) rather than traditional firefighting.
Mamdani swiftly countered, highlighting that EMS personnel handle over 70% of all calls to the FDNY. He affirmed his confidence in Bonsignore, a 56-year-old openly gay veteran of the service, stating her light "can’t be dimmed."
Meanwhile, in the final days of his term, Mayor Adams appointed Mark Guerra, the First Deputy Commissioner with 37 years of fire department experience, to serve as acting Fire Chief. Mamdani acknowledged the outgoing mayor's right to make decisions until the year's end.
This unique inauguration, set against the backdrop of a forgotten architectural gem, firmly signals Mamdani's intent to govern differently. By literally starting his mayoralty underground, he aims to build a new political foundation for New York's future.
