New York City marked a historic turning point on Thursday, January 1, as 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the city’s youngest mayor and its first Muslim leader. Promising a “new era” for the metropolis, Mamdani took the oath of office using the Qur’an during a ceremony that celebrated both political change and the city’s enduring diversity. The ceremony was deliberately shaped as an event created for and by New Yorkers. One of its most distinctive features was the narration, provided by Bernie Wagenblast, the unmistakable voice of the city’s subway system.

For millions of commuters, Wagenblast is the familiar voice reminding passengers to “Stand clear of the closing doors, please.” On this occasion, however, she lent her voice to a moment of civic history.

Wagenblast, 69, is a transportation journalist whose career spans nearly five decades. She has voiced announcements heard by more than a billion subway users each year and has also worked with the PATH customer information line and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Her voice was even heard during the laying of the first cornerstone of One World Trade Center.  She also founded the Transportation Communications Newsletter in 1998, further cementing her association with the city’s transport culture.

Ahead of the inauguration, Wagenblast shared on Instagram that she was beginning the new year “on a stellar note” by providing the ceremony’s voiceover. Mamdani confirmed her involvement shortly before taking the stage, expressing his pleasure that she would accompany the event as announcer.

 

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Wagenblast publicly came out as a trans woman in January 2023, sharing that her full name is Bernadette, while noting that she still prefers to be called Bernie. Beyond New York, she continues to share glimpses of her life with followers. Recently, during a trip to Dublin, she posted on Instagram about visiting the Guinness Storehouse.

Declining the costly option of having her photo etched into the foam of a pint, she opted instead for a playful self-portrait, finger-painting a smiley face on top like a true Guinness drinker.

Together, Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration and Bernie Wagenblast’s participation captured the spirit of a city defined by resilience, individuality and change. In Zohran’s address, the new mayor reflected on the significance of the moment, saying that opportunities like this “come rarely, and rarer still is it that the people themselves whose hands are upon the lever of change”. Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he added: “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”