Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver the opening remarks at the inauguration of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, with Senator Bernie Sanders administering the oath of office. The ceremony, set for January 1, will depart from tradition by inviting all New Yorkers to a public block party on Broadway, aiming to make the event accessible to tens of thousands. Both Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have been vocal supporters of Mamdani, who will become the city's first Muslim mayor, and have campaigned alongside him, emphasizing a progressive agenda focused on affordability and inclusivity. The event comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Mamdani's and his supporters' critical stances on Israel, which have drawn both national attention and criticism.