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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/01/new-york-zohran-mamdani-swearing-in-mayor>
"On a cold Saturday morning, a little over a week before the New York City
mayoral election in November, I was at a park in Queens to speak at a
fundraiser for Asiyah Women’s Centre, the oldest and largest shelter providing
support for American Muslim female victims of domestic violence. Vendors
selling everything from chai to embroidered Palestinian handicrafts turned out
to support the fundraiser; a DJ blasted music and artists painted children’s
faces with the colours of Halloween.
I chose the vendor with the most protein on offer because I lift and squat more
than my bodyweight and must meet a daily goal. “Our kebab is one of Zohran’s
favourites,” the man at the King of Kebab stand told me, proudly and
unprompted, as he piled my plate with meat.
I had not asked him anything about the mayoral race but I knew exactly who he
meant, because like Cher, Madonna, Beyoncé and Björk, our mayor-elect is simply
Zohran to many of us. And not because we can’t pronounce his family name – I’m
looking at you Andrew Cuomo and all who seem to deliberately mangle “Mamdani”.
In New York City, and everywhere else I’ve been, 2025 was the year when
everybody learned his name. And after he is sworn in today on the steps of City
Hall – followed by a party for 40,000 in Lower Manhattan – 2026 will be the
year of Zohran."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
