Urgent Update: NYC’s Next Mayor Number in Question, Historians Say

UPDATE: New reports confirm that New York City’s next mayor, Zohran Mamdani, set to be sworn in on January 1, 2024, may not be the 111th mayor as previously thought. Historians now assert that Mamdani should actually be recognized as the 112th mayor due to a significant historical oversight dating back to 1674.

The findings, revealed by historian Paul Hortenstine, challenge a long-standing narrative that has persisted for over five centuries. Hortenstine’s research indicates that Mayor Matthias Nicolls served a nonconsecutive term that has been omitted from official records, leading to a cascading error affecting every subsequent mayor’s numerical designation.

This revelation matters immensely as it calls into question the historical integrity of NYC’s political lineage. According to Hortenstine, the error dates back to Nicolls’ second term, which is not reflected in the official mayoral list. “I would hope that the city takes the history of mayors very seriously,” Hortenstine stated, emphasizing the need for a correction.

The implications of this miscount extend beyond mere numbers. Former Mayor Eric Adams, who claims to be the 110th mayor, would actually be the 111th, and the esteemed Fiorello La Guardia would jump from the 99th to the 100th mayor. Such discrepancies raise questions about how the city acknowledges its past and the historical figures who shaped it.

Hortenstine stumbled upon this oversight while researching the connections between early NYC mayors and slavery. His investigation led him to archive papers belonging to colonial governor Edmund Andros, where Nicolls’ second term was documented. Despite his findings, the city’s Department of Records, overseen by Ken Cobb, has yet to investigate this discrepancy, though Cobb acknowledged the validity of Hortenstine’s claims.

“It’s a good question. Who noticed this discrepancy? Apparently, this historian did,” Cobb remarked during a visit to the municipal archives. Furthermore, historical documentation by the New York Historical Society supports Hortenstine’s findings, confirming multiple references to Nicolls’ mayoralty in their records.

The last official revision to the mayoral sequence occurred in 1937, when Charles Lodwick was added as the 21st mayor, prompting a ripple effect that re-numbered the subsequent mayors. Now, as Mamdani prepares to take office, the city stands at a crossroads—whether to uphold its historical inaccuracies or amend its records.

The urgency of this situation is palpable, leaving many to wonder if the Adams administration will take action. Randy Mastro, the first deputy mayor, commented, “I think we will leave this issue for historians and — for a change — the next administration.”

As this story develops, the potential for a correction in NYC’s historical records presents a fascinating intersection of governance and academia. Will the incoming administration acknowledge this oversight, or will the miscount continue to cloud the legacy of New York City’s mayors? The historical community and the public await answers as the swearing-in date approaches.