In a recent editorial, The Washington Post board contended that New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's decision to hold his swearing-in ceremony at a subway station inadvertently celebrates the private sector and capitalism.
According to Fox News, Mamdani intends to conduct his inauguration on January 1 at the Old City Hall subway station, describing it as "a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples lives." However, the editorial board pointed out that the station was initially developed by the private Interborough Rapid Transit Company and only began to decline after government intervention.
"Little of the subway system would exist if not for private enterprises that the city later took over," the board noted, emphasizing the entrepreneurial spirit that prioritized creating a desirable transportation system over appeasing public-sector unions and environmental activists. The editorial further criticized the government's role in managing the subway, highlighting that price-controlled fares led to financial starvation of the system, which remained under city control until the state established the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1965.
The editorial, titled "Zohran Mamdani accidentally honors the private sector," also expressed concern over Mamdani's proposed policies, such as free busing, which they believe could harm city transportation. "The incoming mayor is right that the Big Apple's subway is a good monument, but it's to what happens when government thinks it knows better than private firms," the board concluded. They argued that those invested in the city's prosperity should prefer the private skyscrapers above ground to the public transit below.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for a response. The Washington Post editorial board has consistently criticized Mamdani and his policies since his mayoral campaign last summer. Following his election in November, the board took issue with Mamdani's victory speech, accusing it of sparking a "new era of class warfare."
"Across 23 angry minutes laced with identity politics and seething with resentment, Mamdani abandoned his cool disposition and made clear that his view of politics isnt about unity," the editorial stated. It further criticized Mamdani for focusing on identifying and targeting class enemies, such as exploitative landlords and bosses, rather than promoting individual prosperity.
The board noted that Mamdani's goal appears to be redistributing wealth to favored groups, with no mention of growth, while President Donald Trump was referenced eight times in his speech.
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