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Comrades, assemble!

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday tapped a longtime Democratic Socialists of America member to bring the far-left group’s mobilization model to City Hall.

Hizzoner signed an executive order creating the “Officer of Mass Engagement,” and tasked his mayoral campaign’s field director, Tascha Van Auken, with running the outreach and organizing arm for the administration.


  Commissioner Tascha Van Auken attends a press conference held by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York City, on Jan. 2, 2026. REUTERS Commissioner Tascha Van Auken attends a press conference held by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York City, on Jan. 2, 2026. REUTERS

  Mamdani signed an executive order creating the “Officer of Mass Engagement,” which will be led by Auken. Paul Martinka Mamdani signed an executive order creating the “Officer of Mass Engagement,” which will be led by Auken. Paul Martinka

“For too long, city government has only listened to the wealthy and well-connected while working New Yorkers remain further and further disconnected from those elected to serve them,” Mamdani said, touting the office as one that will forge a “deeper connection” between City Hall and New Yorkers.

Auken got her start in lefty politics in the Big Apple working on Julia Salazar’s state senate campaign and Phara Souffrant Forrest’s assembly run — both of whom are card-carrying DSA members.

Before joining Mamdani’s team, she worked as deputy campaigns director for the Working Families Party.

The shiny new agency that Auken will helm is expected to lead “mass engagement campaigns” and try to reach out to and include New Yorkers in the decision-making of the Mamdani administration.

The full size and scope of the office was left up to the imagination as Mamdani offered few specifics other than saying it would start by overseeing existing agencies, including the Public Engagement Unit, The Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships and the Civic Engagement Commission.


  Before joining Mamdani’s team, Auken worked as the deputy campaigns director for the Working Families Party. Paul Martinka Before joining Mamdani’s team, Auken worked as the deputy campaigns director for the Working Families Party. Paul Martinka

  The Auken-run agency is expected to lead “mass engagement campaigns” and try to reach out to and include New Yorkers in the decision-making of the Mamdani administration. Paul Martinka The Auken-run agency is expected to lead “mass engagement campaigns” and try to reach out to and include New Yorkers in the decision-making of the Mamdani administration. Paul Martinka

The price tag for taxpayers was also not known.

Mamdani claimed the move will get historically absent communities involved in city government.

“We need more cops, more probation officers, more direct services,” said longtime strategist Hank Sheinkopf.

“All this agency will do is propagandize to chill opposition to mayoral activities.”

The new office drew comparisons to Bill de Blasio’s early days in office, when he commissioned hundreds of sophisticated ads for his administration.

The flattering clips showered the progressive leader with praise.

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