New York City's incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is preparing to welcome residents to a public block party for his inauguration on January 1, but the event's lengthy list of banned items has sparked widespread bemusement online.
An Unusual List of Prohibitions
While the prohibition of weapons, explosives, and illegal substances was anticipated, the official guidelines have raised eyebrows by also banning commonplace items. Alongside large bags, drones, and alcohol, the list explicitly forbids strollers, Flipper Zero devices, and Raspberry Pi computers.
A Flipper Zero is a compact, multi-tool gadget capable of interacting with various wireless signals like key fobs and RFID cards, often dubbed a 'Swiss Army knife' for tech enthusiasts. A Raspberry Pi is a widely used, affordable micro-computer popular for coding, DIY electronics, and educational projects.
Tech commentators have noted that while both devices have programmable capabilities that could theoretically be misused, an explicit ban is highly unusual. They point out that far more powerful and versatile devices, such as laptops, are not restricted.
Social Media Backlash and Event Details
The ban list quickly circulated on social media, where users expressed astonishment. One commenter remarked on the perceived equivalence of the items, writing: 'According to Zohran Mamdani, the following items all belong in the same category: Illegal substances, weapons, explosives and Raspberry Pi.' Another focused on the stroller ban, quipping: 'The stroller is the most insane to me as it looks like he's anti-baby.'
The inauguration website encourages attendees to dress warmly for the January weather and allows small bags subject to search. Guests may bring thermoses with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks to share. The full list of prohibited items also includes coolers, chairs, blankets, umbrellas, bicycles, laser pens, and pets other than service animals.
Mamdani's Platform and Promises
Mamdani, who moved to NYC from Uganda as a child, won the election with 50.78 percent of the vote, defeating Andrew Cuomo by a margin of over 9.5 percentage points. Voter turnout was significant, with 735,317 ballots cast during early voting—more than five times the 2021 figure.
His campaign made ambitious pledges, including a freeze on rent hikes for stabilised tenants, a tripling of the city's stock of affordable rent-stabilised homes, and a plan to build 200,000 new units over 10 years at an estimated cost of $100 billion. He has also promised to make city buses free and to establish government-run grocery stores focused on affordability rather than profit.
To fund these policies, Mamdani proposes a two percent income tax increase on New Yorkers earning over $1 million annually and raising the top corporate tax rate from 7.25 to 11.5 percent. Critics warn this could trigger a wealth exodus, jeopardising the city's tax base and economic stability.
