RICHMOND, Va. — Two people with RVA ties played prominent roles in New York City’s mayoral inauguration Thursday as Zohran Mamdani was sworn in.
Mamdani, a democrat, campaigned on promises of addressing the cost of living and affordability. He is the city’s first Muslim mayor, and the youngest in generations.
Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, studied communication arts at VCU. She spent her first year at the art school’s campus in Qatar before moving to Richmond to complete her studies. Duwaji is an accomplished artist whose illustrations have appeared in publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Her husband was sworn in at a decommissioned subway station below City Hall just after midnight, placing his hand on a Quran held by Duwaji as he took his oath…