Mayor to Mayor: Some Advice for Zohran

"Zohran Mamdani is about to find out what I learned the hard way: No one can be truly prepared for the tsunami-like dynamics of the transition from regular human to leader of a city of 8.5 million people. So let me speak from experience as a two-term mayor of New York City and offer a little guidance (or at least some solace) to Zohran and his team as they begin their extraordinary journey in governance."

"Team: When I started having focused conversations with Zohran earlier this year, I was struck by how deeply and thoughtfully he absorbed advice. He was consistently big-picture-oriented and historically grounded when it came to understanding the role of a mayor. And as I watched his outreach to people with experience and insight, regardless of ideological differences, I gained confidence that he would not make the mistake of just hiring from his inner circle."

"It's easy and comfortable to surround yourself with longtime loyalists. But the better strategy is to keep a core of trusted true believers available while seeking highly experienced talent for other roles. This is the best way to serve the people of New York City, while also fighting off the "hostile encirclement" that the status quo forces in business, politics, and media will utilize to try to strangle Mamdani's vision and success."

Four areas determine the first year of a mayoralty: Team, Simplicity, Speed, and Authenticity. Build a team that combines a core of trusted true believers with highly experienced talent recruited beyond the inner circle to serve residents while resisting hostile encirclement from entrenched interests. Keep policies and messaging deliberately simple to preserve a proactive agenda amid constant attacks and crises. Move quickly to capitalize on successes and develop political capital before opposition consolidates. Maintain authenticity by aligning decisions with core values and communicating transparently to sustain credibility and public trust.

Read at The Nation