Mamdani to Establish New 'Office of Mass Engagement' Led by Veteran Socialist Organizer

New York's newly sworn-in mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order Friday to create an Office of Mass Engagement led by his campaign's field director and veteran socialist organizer Tascha Van Auken.

The new office will help rebuild "our social infrastructure at scale," Mamdani said at his first press conference at Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, and will maintain the social and civic momentum he generated in this year's election.

"For too long, city government has only listened to the wealthy and well-connected while working New Yorkers remain further and further disconnected from those elected to serve them," Mamdani said in a statement. "The Office of Mass Engagement will fundamentally change this, creating a deeper connection between City Hall and community organizations, faith-based groups, and everyday New Yorkers looking to make their voices heard. Tascha Van Auken has been instrumental in creating the mass movement that delivered us to City Hall, and she will bring the same urgency, discipline, and principles to her work as Director of the Office of Mass Engagement."