NEW YORK (AP) New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji officially moved into Gracie Mansion, the city’s historic mayoral residence in Manhattan, on Monday. The transition from their modest, leaky one-bedroom apartment in Queens to the grand mansion marks a significant milestone in their new roles. The couple began unpacking their belongings, including houseplants and rolled-up carpets, while Mamdani addressed the media on the new riverfront lawn.
Mamdani expressed his excitement about starting a new chapter in a familiar city, stating, "Today, Rama and I feel lucky to participate in a ritual that so many New Yorkers have experienced at various meaningful moments in their lives: Beginning a new chapter, by moving to a different part of the city that we call home." Since its designation as the official mayoral residence in 1942, Gracie Mansion has been home to almost all of New York City's mayors.
The stark contrast between Mamdani’s previous living arrangements and the imposing Gracie Mansion is remarkable. His former apartment, which cost $2,300 per month, lacked basic amenities like a washer and dryer and had issues with flooding due to a broken pipe. In comparison, Gracie Mansion offers an expansive 11,000 square feet (1,021 square meters) of living space, a private chef, an ornate ballroom, and a veranda that overlooks the East River. The historic home also features the original fireplace where Alexander Hamilton died after his duel with Aaron Burr. Former Mayor Eric Adams notably mentioned the mansion’s ghostly presence, hinting at its rich history.
During his press conference, Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, acknowledged that the relocation could appear contradictory to his commitment to leading a government reflective of its constituents. He mentioned that the move was partly necessitated by heightened security requirements associated with his position.
Mamdani’s intention to open Gracie Mansion to the general public reflects his aim to bridge gaps between the mayor’s office and the diverse communities of New York City. He mentioned an “aspirational hope” of making cosmetic changes, such as installing bidets in the mansion's bathrooms.
The mayor relayed fond memories of his upbringing across Central Park in a subsidized apartment tied to Columbia University, where his father teaches. While in the state Legislature, he resided in Astoria, a culturally rich neighborhood in Queens known for electing progressive leaders like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mamdani expressed nostalgia for the local culture, saying he would miss the “endless Adeni chai, the spirited conversations in Spanish, Arabic, and every language in between, [and] the aromas of seafood and shawarma drifting down the block.”
In contrast, his new neighborhood in the Upper East Side, an affluent area predominantly white and comprising many wealthier residents, will likely present a cultural shift. While Mamdani achieved overwhelming support in Astoria, his opponent, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, won the Upper East Side by a significant margin. As an Upper East Sider, neuropsychologist Zoe Cuddy expressed hope that the community would come to appreciate their new mayor, comparing the area to “the suburbs of Manhattan,” and predicted that locals would embrace Mamdani over time.
