Mamdani Announces Transition Team... 'Grim Reaper of Big Tech' Lina Khan Joins

All Five Senior Transition Committee Members Announced Are Women

'Progressive icon' Zohran Mamdani, Mayor-elect of New York, has announced the list of members for the transition committee that will oversee the transfer of work from the current administration of Mayor Eric Adams. Lina Khan, former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and often referred to as the 'Grim Reaper of Big Tech,' has joined as co-chair.

Zohran Mamdani, Mayor-elect of New York (left), and Lina Khan, former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On November 5 (local time), Mayor-elect Mamdani held a press conference at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York, stating, "The poetry of the campaign may have ended at 9 p.m. last night, but the beautiful prose of governance has only just begun," adding, "We are now starting the difficult work of improving the lives of New Yorkers." The 'poetry and prose' analogy is interpreted as a reference to the famous saying by former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, father of former gubernatorial rival Andrew Cuomo: "You campaign in poetry, but you govern in prose."

The main members of the transition committee include Elena Leopold, a former official from the Bill de Blasio administration; Lina Khan, who served as FTC Chair under the Biden administration; and Maria Torres-Springer, who was the First Deputy Mayor in the current New York City administration. All five senior members of the transition committee announced on this day are women.

In particular, former FTC Chair Lina Khan has been critical of the monopoly issues of Big Tech (large information technology companies), earning her nicknames such as 'Big Tech Sniper' and 'Grim Reaper of Big Tech.' Bloomberg News noted, "Lina Khan drew the ire of major technology companies and their stakeholders with her aggressive approach to antitrust cases."

The New York Times assessed that the newly announced transition team members encompass both professional administrators and experts in progressive policy agendas.

Throughout the campaign, Mayor-elect Mamdani consistently emphasized his commitment to easing the cost-of-living burden for New Yorkers, and reiterated this mission at the press conference. He stated, "My first day at City Hall will look like my last," adding, "The administration will focus on the cost-of-living crisis and on work for New Yorkers who have been pushed out of this city."

He also stressed his intention to communicate with those who did not support him. "Whether they are elected officials, rabbis, or community leaders, I look forward to working with Jewish leaders across this city," he said. In Jewish communities, which make up a significant portion of New York City's population, concerns about antisemitism have been raised due to Mayor-elect Mamdani's pro-Palestinian stance as a Muslim. In fact, some areas of Brooklyn with large Orthodox Jewish populations showed low support for Mamdani in this election.

Additionally, Mayor-elect Mamdani addressed concerns from the business community about progressive policies, stating that he has communicated with key leaders of New York City's business sector throughout the campaign, and will continue to engage with business leaders such as JP Morgan Chairman Jamie Dimon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.