SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (WABC) — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made a triumphant trip to Puerto Rico on Thursday for an annual summit that brings New York politicians and lobbyists to sunny San Juan for strategy meetings, workshops and boozy confabs.
Fresh off his election win, Mamdani was greeted by a cheering crowd on the beachfront at the Somos conference, where he promised to fight for working people.
His Democratic ally, New York Attorney General Letitia James, exhorted the crowd to sing “Mamdani, whoa-oh-oh-oh” along with her to the tune of old standard, “Volare.”
The conference is something of a post-Election Day retreat for the state’s political movers and shakers at a Hilton hotel in San Juan. This year, there are ballroom events billed as “Workforce Development Through Rising Communities” and “Celebrating Human Services Together,” along with a series of legislative workshops. The whole affair is typically viewed as a chance to unwind, schmooze and party.
“I’m happy to be here at Somos, and I’m happy also to be here because … you cannot tell the story of New York City without telling the story of Puerto Rico,” Mamdani said shortly after arriving.
He added that he had already tried the traditional plantain dish, mofongo, and that “it was great.”
Mamdani, 34, announced his all-female transition team this week, hiring a group of veteran officials to help guide his shift to City Hall, as he plans to carry out an ambitious affordability agenda when he takes office next year.
After announcing his transition team, they launched a portal for job applicants to apply to join the Mamdani administration.
“If you’re passionate about public service and contributing to this work, we invite you to share your resume,” a message on the portal says. Officials say 25,000 people have already submitted resumes.
One of the most crucial jobs is that of police commissioner and there is still no word on whether Jessica Tisch will stay on.
Former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who served under both a republican and democratic mayor, weighed in Friday on that challenge.
“She will definitely ask for more people, the department is severely understaffed by 3,000 officers and that’s one of the problems they’ll have to work out if they decide to go forward together,” Bratton said.
Mamdani won’t just have to learn how to run the city, he’ll need to understand the parameters of the job– another thing transition team co-chair Lina Kahn is exploring.
“My focus right now is canvassing what executive authority he will possess and make sure we have the full maximum account of that so he has full understanding of levers he can use to make life better for New Yorkers,” Kahn said.
The transition team has now raised more than half a million dollars since election night.
Before landing in Puerto Rico, Mamdani spoke by phone with the city’s outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, who promised that his team “will fully cooperate with this transition,” according to a spokesperson for Adams. Adams did not attend the annual summit.
Mamdani is set to return to New York on Saturday.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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