Newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is already moving aggressively to dismantle much of former Mayor Eric Adams’ legacy, signing a sweeping set of executive orders on his first day in office Thursday that revoke most of Adams’ late-term directives.
Among Mamdani’s first actions was an executive order rescinding all executive orders issued by Adams after Sept. 26, 2024 — the same day Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges. The move effectively wipes out months of policy decisions made by the former mayor during a turbulent period for City Hall.
“We speak about this day as a new era,” Mamdani said Thursday at City Hall. “And in order to fulfill that hope, we have to reckon with why so many New Yorkers have turned away from politics over the last few months, the last few years, the last few decades.”
“That was a date that marked a moment when many New Yorkers decided politics held nothing for them,” Mamdani added, referring to the day of Adams’ indictment.
Adams became the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office, accused of accepting money from Turkey in exchange for helping facilitate the construction of a Turkish consulate in Manhattan. While the Justice Department dropped the case in February — early in President Trump’s second term — the decision sparked accusations of political favoritism from Democrats and prompted multiple resignations from prosecutors involved in the case.
Despite the charges being dismissed, Mamdani’s order treats Adams’ post-indictment governing period as illegitimate, undoing a broad range of policies with a single signature.
In addition to reversing Adams-era directives, Mamdani used his first day in office to advance a progressive housing agenda. He signed three executive orders aimed at addressing New York City’s housing crisis, including the creation of two new task forces — Land Inventory Fast Track and Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development — designed to accelerate housing construction.
The mayor also announced the appointment of Cea Weaver as director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, a new emphasis for the administration focused on expanding tenant protections. (RELATED: Zohran Mamdani Pledges To Govern New York City As Democratic Socialist)
Mamdani further signaled a departure from Adams’ governing structure by announcing he will operate with five deputy mayors, fewer than his predecessor.
“We will govern without shame and insecurity, making no apology for what we believe,” Mamdani said. “I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.”
The early moves underscore how quickly Mamdani is seeking to reshape City Hall.
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