TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
November 6 , 2025
New York — Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani unveiled his transition team on Wednesday, marking the first major step in what many observers see as a new chapter for New York City politics. The team includes community organizers, urban policy experts, union representatives, and — for the first time in city history — an official muezzin.
The appointment of Ahmad Rahman, a Harlem-based imam and social worker, to the ceremonial position was announced at City Hall Park before a beaming crowd of supporters and reporters. Rahman will advise on religious outreach and cultural inclusion initiatives, according to a brief statement from the transition office.
Mayor-elect Mamdani said the move reflects his long-stated goal of expanding the city’s representation. “This transition is about making sure every New Yorker can see themselves in City Hall — in faith, in background, in perspective,” he said.
In a symbolic gesture, Mamdani also announced plans to install an external loudspeaker on City Hall’s façade to issue the traditional Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, at designated times. The mayor-elect stressed that the system would comply with city noise ordinances and operate under a limited schedule.
City officials confirmed they are reviewing regulatory requirements for publicly audible religious calls, which have precedent in some New York neighborhoods but have never been used at a municipal government building.
Mamdani’s inauguration is scheduled for January 2, 2026. His transition team is expected to release a full policy outline later this month.
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