The newly elected Mayor of New York City, Zahran Mamdani, and his wife Rama Duaaji have officially moved into the city’s official residence, Gracie Mansion. The 34-year-old mayor announced his new chapter in life on his official Instagram account, calling Gracie Mansion “the people’s house” and stating that it will always be connected to the people of New York City. In his post, Mamdani expressed his gratitude and humility in joining the people of New York City in a new part of the city, Upper East Side, where they will reside in the iconic mansion.
The couple shared photos of their move into Gracie Mansion, where they were welcomed by the staff and the public. Gracie Mansion, a stunning 11,000-square-foot residence, has been the official home of New York City’s mayors since 1942, with each mayor occupying the space. However, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire, rarely resided in the mansion, opting instead to stay in his personal homes in Germany, Sweden, France, and Norway.
The move was made with the consideration of the family’s security, but Mamdani also acknowledged that they will miss their previous apartment in Queens, where they had lived for the past five years, paying $2,300 per month in rent. The mayor shared fond memories of their previous home, including cooking meals together in their kitchen, taking the elevator with their neighbors in the evenings, and hearing the sounds of music and laughter from neighboring apartments.
Gracie Mansion, on the other hand, is a fully staffed residence with a large operation, located on the East River in the Upper East Side, and is a stark contrast to their previous apartment. The mansion has been a symbol of the city’s mayor’s office, with each mayor occupying the space, except for Bloomberg, who preferred to stay in his personal homes abroad.
In related news, the US is expecting an increase in oil sales from Venezuela in the coming days and weeks. Meanwhile, Russia is transforming its occupied areas in Ukraine’s Donbas region into a large military base. The Henley Passport Index has released its list of the world’s most powerful passports for the first half of the year. Donald Trump has expressed his desire for a short but decisive military action, rather than a long war. Israeli flights to New York will be suspended until January 19, according to German airline Lufthansa.
