New York City's Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration speech was a cultural melting pot of references, nods to his upbringing, and a display of his self-proclaimed cultural fluency. The mayor, who once went by the rap alias "Mr. Cardamom," sprinkled popular references into his policy talk, showcasing his ability as a wordsmith.
When Mamdani governs, we'll be tracking every reference he makes, from Scorsese to Spike Lee, or even mentions of Taylor Swift and Lucy Dacus. The mayor's use of cultural icons is likely an attempt to connect with New Yorkers on multiple levels, establishing himself as a leader who can appeal to various segments of the population.
One notable example is his recent collaboration with children's entertainer Ms. Rachel, who has gained a massive following on YouTube for her educational content and advocacy for Palestinian children. Although the war in Gaza was not discussed during their meeting, Mamdani's association with Ms. Rachel echoes his support for Palestinians.
However, not all of Mamdani's references have been well-received. During one of his first press conferences, he gave a shoutout to indie musician Lucy Dacus, referencing her "Bread and Roses" song, in an effort to address "junk fees" charged by ticketing agencies. While this move may resonate with some, it could also be perceived as tone-deaf given the significant price difference between her concert tickets and the fees.
In another instance, Mamdani quoted notorious NYC planner Robert Moses during a speech on McGuinness Boulevard redesign, which sparked boos from the crowd. By using Moses' infamous quote, Mamdani aimed to illustrate the need for drastic changes in the neighborhood's design. However, it remains unclear whether he has actually read "The Power Broker," his eponymous book.
As we track Mayor Mamdani's cultural references over the next four years – or eight, depending on how things unfold – one thing is clear: he is committed to showcasing his cultural fluency and building relationships with various segments of New York City's diverse population.
When Mamdani governs, we'll be tracking every reference he makes, from Scorsese to Spike Lee, or even mentions of Taylor Swift and Lucy Dacus. The mayor's use of cultural icons is likely an attempt to connect with New Yorkers on multiple levels, establishing himself as a leader who can appeal to various segments of the population.
One notable example is his recent collaboration with children's entertainer Ms. Rachel, who has gained a massive following on YouTube for her educational content and advocacy for Palestinian children. Although the war in Gaza was not discussed during their meeting, Mamdani's association with Ms. Rachel echoes his support for Palestinians.
However, not all of Mamdani's references have been well-received. During one of his first press conferences, he gave a shoutout to indie musician Lucy Dacus, referencing her "Bread and Roses" song, in an effort to address "junk fees" charged by ticketing agencies. While this move may resonate with some, it could also be perceived as tone-deaf given the significant price difference between her concert tickets and the fees.
In another instance, Mamdani quoted notorious NYC planner Robert Moses during a speech on McGuinness Boulevard redesign, which sparked boos from the crowd. By using Moses' infamous quote, Mamdani aimed to illustrate the need for drastic changes in the neighborhood's design. However, it remains unclear whether he has actually read "The Power Broker," his eponymous book.
As we track Mayor Mamdani's cultural references over the next four years – or eight, depending on how things unfold – one thing is clear: he is committed to showcasing his cultural fluency and building relationships with various segments of New York City's diverse population.
I'm tellin' ya, this whole thing feels like a PR stunt. The mayor's always sprinklin' in these references, tryin' to make himself seem all cultured and stuff. But what's really goin' on here? Is he just tryin' to connect with the people, or is he tryin' to pull some kinda angle? 
I mean, that collaboration with Ms. Rachel... it sounds like a sweet deal for him, but what's in it for her? And those indie musician shoutouts? Tone-deaf, man. That Lucy Dacus reference was just a weird move. 
Mayor Mamdani is def a wordsmith 
I mean, who else can throw in Scorsese & Spike Lee into one speech? 
He's trying to connect with everyone from kids to adults (hello Ms. Rachel 
) and even indie musicians like Lucy Dacus 
Love how he's not afraid to give shoutouts, even if it's a bit tone-deaf sometimes 
. And I'm dying over the Robert Moses reference 
Boos from the crowd? More like cheers for Mayor Mamdani being bold & unapologetic 
. Can't wait to see what other cultural references he throws in during his speeches 
!
He seems like he's trying to connect with everyone through pop culture, but it's also kinda crazy how much attention he's getting over this.
mayor's just trying 2 connect w/ ppl on multiple levels, throwin in some pop culture references like they're goin 4 free 
it's all good, he's not tryna be some kind of expert or nothin'. but seriously tho, the fact that people are already scrutinizin' every. single. thing. he says & does is kinda concerning 
. And referencing Robert Moses without actually reading his book might come off as lazy 
. On the other hand, I do love how he collaborated with Ms. Rachel, who's doing great work for kids 
. Maybe it's just a case of trying to be relatable but still being careful not to miss the mark 
.
anyway I think its cool how Mayor Mamdani trying to connect w/ ppl through pop culture references, especially with Ms Rachel collaboration tho 
I wonder if people gonna appreciate all the other references he throws in during speeches, or it's just gonna be like "okay cool" 
i guess its cool dat he's tryin 2 connect w/ diff parts of the city, but some ppl r sayin his refs didnt quite land 
. I mean, using Lucy Dacus' song about "junk fees" in a press conference might seem like a good idea, but is it really gonna resonate with people who are paying those extra charges? And what's up with quoting Robert Moses, the guy who basically gentrified NYC's neighborhoods 
? It feels like Mamdani is trying too hard to be cool and relatable 
.
. Newsflash: it's not that hard to have a conversation about policy without throwing in a random reference to keep the masses entertained 
. It's all about trying to be relatable, but really, just comes off as shallow 
.
. It's all about building that bridge and connecting with the people, you feel me? 
Now, I'm not sure about the Lucy Dacus shoutout tho... it felt like a bit of a stretch 
! It's so cool to see him nodding to Scorsese and Spike Lee, but at the same time, I'm a bit worried that some of his references might fall flat... like when he quoted Robert Moses - booing from the crowd can be pretty harsh 
. But I'm excited to track his cultural references over the next few years and see how he uses them to connect with New Yorkers on multiple levels 
. But let's get real, if he thinks referencing Taylor Swift is gonna bring him down with the folks on McGuinness Boulevard, he's got another thing coming 
.
. From Scorsese to Lucy Dacus, the dude is on point!