The Washington Post says Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s decision to hold his Jan. 1 inauguration at Old City Hall unintentionally highlights the role of private companies in building New York’s subway. The editorial points out the station was built by the private Interborough Rapid Transit Company and argues many system problems followed public takeover and centralized management. It warns that proposals like free busing could strain transit finances and reiterates broader concerns about Mamdani’s rhetoric and policy agenda.
Washington Post Says Mamdani’s Subway Swearing-In 'Accidentally' Honors Private Enterprise
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will hold an inauguration ceremony inside the Old City Hall subway station.
The Washington Post editorial board argued Tuesday that New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s decision to hold his Jan. 1 swearing-in ceremony at the historic Old City Hall subway station unintentionally spotlights the role private enterprise played in building the city’s transit system.
Editorial Argument
The Post notes that the original Old City Hall station was built by the private Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and contends that many of the subway system’s later problems emerged after public takeover and centralized control. The editorial credits early private firms with focusing on building railroads that riders wanted to use, while arguing that subsequent government management, price-controlled fares and bureaucratic expansion left the system chronically underfunded.
The Washington Post argued that the station Zohran Mamdani praises was largely constructed by the private sector.
"Little of the subway system would exist if not for private enterprises that the city later took over," the board wrote, adding that government control introduced funding and management challenges.
Concerns About Incoming Policies
The editorial warns that some of Mamdani’s proposed policies, such as free busing, could further strain transit finances and service quality. It frames the Old City Hall ceremony as an ironic reminder that private investment played a foundational role in many of the city's early infrastructure achievements.
Broader Criticism of Mamdani
The Post has repeatedly criticized Mamdani during and after his mayoral campaign. Citing his November victory speech, the editorial board described the address as confrontational and focused on class divisions, arguing that his rhetoric emphasized redistribution over growth.
The Washington Post editorial board has been a frequent critic of Mamdani's since his campaign.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment on the editorial and the planned ceremony.
Context And Caveats
Readers should note this piece reflects the Washington Post editorial board’s perspective. It raises historical and policy arguments about private versus public roles in infrastructure, and it expresses skepticism about specific incoming proposals. Supporters of Mamdani may dispute the board’s claims about causation between public control and transit decline, or about the likely effects of his policy proposals.
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