Mamdani opens a three-day U20 mayors’ summit in NYC on housing, climate and migration

Mayor Zohran Mamdani welcomed city leaders from around the world to New York on Saturday as he opened the Urban 20 Summit, a three-day meeting focused on the climate crisis, migration and the rising cost of housing.

Roughly 25 mayors and fellow officials are expected over the three days, speaking for a total of 34 cities. The Mamdani administration shares hosting duties with Los Angeles. Dilpreet Sidhu, the Los Angeles deputy mayor of international affairs, co-chairs the summit with Mamdani and also addressed the gathering.

What Mamdani said at the U20 opening

Mamdani told the visitors that their cities are after the same things: making life more affordable, coping with a worsening climate crisis and pushing back against those on the right who make it “their mission to demonize and terrorize immigrants.”

“My sincere hope is that this conference marks only the beginning of a new era of cooperation and emulation,” he said. He later posted video of his remarks on social media.

A mostly closed-door U20 schedule

The press was kept out of most of Saturday’s events. Only some media organizations could attend the opening speech, and its location was not disclosed.

According to the mayor’s public schedule, he planned a stop at a wastewater treatment plant, whose location was also withheld, together with Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni and Helsinki Mayor Daniel Sazanov. Footage approved for release was promised later that day. The schedule also listed private meetings, at unannounced sites, with Collboni and with Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam.

Clara Brugada, who heads the Mexico City government, and Jakarta Gov. Pramono Anung are also said to be attending.