New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signs executive orders with campaign volunteers during an appearance at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, Friday, in New York City. The newly inaugurated mayor has revoked a number of executive orders issued by former NYC Mayor Eric Adams, including some related to Israel. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
"And what we will now do is showcase that new era to protect each and every New Yorker, and to deliver for those same New Yorkers in a manner that they have not seen under prior administrations," he added.
The executive order revoked or required reissuance of mayoral directives issued after Sept. 26, 2024, giving the Mamdani administration control over which policies would carry forward.
Mamdani made the remarks as he described the purpose of a new Office of Mass Engagement, which he said is intended to bring together civic outreach work already happening across city government.
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NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses the crowd during his inauguration outside of City Hall on Thursday. (Jason Alpert-Wisnia / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
Mamdani said he wants the new office to change when public engagement happens in the policy process.
"Oftentimes, the outreach and engagement of city government is done with an intention to justify a decision that’s already been taken," he said. "The point of this office is, however, to make decisions with a large part being what the public actually thinks about those decisions."
Asked about budget and staffing, Mamdani said the office will initially draw from existing city employees.
"There are a number of employees within this office that are already working for the city, within previously existing offices and then the specifics of how it will expand beyond that is something that we will be sharing later," he said.
Mamdani rejected the idea that the office was built around reelection politics, saying it is aimed at "delivering for New Yorkers today, delivering for New Yorkers every single day... We have an opportunity in this moment where New Yorkers are allowing themselves to believe in the possibility of city government once again, that is not a belief that will sustain itself in the absence of action," Mamdani said.
Mamdani also pointed to another appointment announcement, saying the engagement office aligns with his decision to name Ali Najimy to lead recruitment and outreach for the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary.
"Too often the ability for a New Yorker to become a judge has been determined by who they know, as opposed to the work that they do," Mamdani said, adding that the goal is to ensure the judicial system reflects the city and "a commitment to excellence and an application of the law in a universal manner."
Najimy said the position would expand recruitment citywide and shape criminal and family court appointments, saying that candidates should be evaluated "on the merits of their experience, their qualifications, their commitment to public service."
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Mamdani said he does not want the new office judged by activity alone.
"We should not be measured on the number of meetings we hold, or the number of surveys that are filled out," he said. "We should, in fact, be measured by the way in which we incorporate that feedback into the decisions that we make.
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional comment.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
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