Bill de Blasio sworn in as mayor of New York

In the formal ceremony at City Hall today, Bill DeBlasio accepted the responsibility to serve New Yorkers. As the 109th mayor of New York City, he promises to put an end to economic and social inequalities.

The larger celebration took place after a small ceremony in his home in Brooklyn shortly after midnight. DeBlasio succeeds Michael Bloomberg, who was the mayor of New York for 12 years.

According to The New York Times, DeBlasio said, “We are called to put an end to economic and social inequalities that threaten to unravel the city we love,” Mr. de Blasio said. “And so today, we commit to a new progressive direction in New York. And that same progressive impulse has written our city’s history. It’s in our DNA.”

De Blasio has also pledged to improve community relations, extend New York's historic drop in crime, and create less of a gap between the rich and the poor, according to Reuters.

Also attending the inauguration was his wife, Chirlane McCray, his daughter, Chiara, and his son, Dante.

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