Mamdani launches tenure with sweeping executive actions

NEW YORK (MNTV) — Zohran Mamdani began his first day as New York City mayor with a tightly coordinated slate of executive actions, making the signing of five major orders the focal point of his initial hours in office.

The move underscored an immediate and deliberate shift in the city’s political priorities and administrative approach.

After taking the oath of office shortly after midnight, Mamdani moved quickly to issue his first executive order, known as the “Fresh Start” directive.

The order repealed all mayoral executive orders issued by former mayor Eric Adams on or after September 26, 2024, the date of Adams’ federal indictment.

In practical terms, the decision voided approximately nine directives, including the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and an order opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The new mayor framed the move as a deliberate clearing of the city’s legal slate, arguing that his administration needed to begin without the constraints of what he viewed as politically compromised decisions.

Within hours, Mamdani signed his second executive order, which focused inward on the structure of City Hall itself.

The directive reorganized the mayoral administration by reducing the number of deputy mayors from seven to five and formally redefining their responsibilities.

Officials said the streamlined structure was designed to better reflect Mamdani’s governing priorities, particularly affordability, social justice and accountability, while also improving coordination and decision-making across city agencies.

Housing and tenant protections dominated the remainder of the day’s executive actions. Mamdani’s third order was signed not at City Hall, but at a rent-stabilized residential building in Brooklyn, a location chosen to underscore the policy’s intent.

The order significantly expanded the authority of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, turning it into a central enforcement body with enhanced powers.

Under the directive, the office is tasked with consolidating 311 housing complaints, aggressively pursuing landlords accused of unsafe or predatory practices, and intervening in major legal cases — including large-scale bankruptcies — to prevent tenant displacement.

The fourth executive order established the Land Inventory Fast Track (LIFT) Task Force, a new body mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of all city-owned properties.

Its purpose is to identify sites that can be rapidly converted into housing developments, with a firm deadline to present findings by July 1, 2026. City officials said the initiative is intended to remove uncertainty around available land and accelerate the pipeline for new housing projects.

Mamdani’s fifth order created the Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (SPEED) Task Force.

This body is charged with identifying and eliminating bureaucratic delays that slow housing construction, including permitting backlogs and administrative hurdles that raise costs.

The task force’s mandate spans all five boroughs, with an emphasis on ensuring that faster development also translates into broader access to affordable housing.

Alongside the executive orders, Mamdani announced a slate of senior appointments intended to reinforce the priorities outlined in his day-one directives.

Veteran administrator Dean Fuleihan was named first deputy mayor, providing institutional experience and continuity.

Housing advocate Cea Weaver was appointed to lead the revitalized Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, while Leila Bozorg became deputy mayor for housing and planning, overseeing both the LIFT and SPEED task forces.

Additional appointments covered economic justice, operations, health and human services, transportation and the mayor’s chief of staff.

Taken together, Mamdani’s first day in office was defined less by ceremony than by action, with the signing of executive orders serving as the primary vehicle through which he articulated his vision.

By concentrating authority, resetting policy and placing housing and tenant protections at the forefront, the new mayor used his opening hours to establish both the tone and the direction of his administration.