With mere days before he assumes power, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani finds himself in a frantic race to fill crucial city positions.

As the 34-year-old Queens assemblyman gears up to become mayor next week, unfilled roles such as schools chancellor, health commissioner, and transportation boss are raising eyebrows, as the New York Post reports.

Even deputy mayor for operations and key economic planning posts remain vacant, casting doubt on whether his administration is truly prepared to govern.

Transition Team Under Early Scrutiny

Despite amassing over $3.5 million for his transition and enlisting 400 advisers across 17 committees, whispers about a shaky vetting process persist.

The abrupt resignation of appointments director Catherine Almonte Da Costa last week, after past controversial remarks surfaced, only deepens skepticism.

Critics also note a troubling disconnect with the business community, suggesting Mamdani’s talent pool may be too narrow for a city of this scale.

Ideological Constraints in Hiring?

“Mamdani has a shallow professional pool,” remarked political strategist Ken Frydman, questioning the availability of qualified candidates aligned with the mayor-elect’s views. Such a limited selection risks prioritizing ideology over ability, a dangerous gamble for New York’s complex needs.

Mamdani, however, pushed back on Monday, asserting, “We are fully confident in the team that we are assembling and in the pace at which we are assembling it.” Confidence is one thing, but with major roles still open, taxpayers might wonder if bold words match the reality.

While he claims his appointment speed mirrors past mayors, the unresolved schools chancellor role -- with current chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos seeking to stay on -- remains a glaring issue.

Pragmatism or Political Continuity?

Successors for positions like transportation commissioner, once held by Ydanis Rodriguez under Mayor Eric Adams, and human resources commissioner are still unnamed.

Yet, Mamdani’s team has informed Adams’s commissioners whether they’ll stay temporarily or exit by Jan. 1, hinting at some continuity.

Retaining Adams appointees like Jessica Tisch as police commissioner and Javier Lojan as sanitation commissioner for winter stability shows a practical streak, despite Mamdani’s past sharp criticism of Adams as “corrupt.”

Blending Experience with New Vision

New appointments such as Lillian Bonsignore as fire commissioner and Leila Bozorg as deputy mayor for housing suggest a balance of experience, even if the progressive tilt in roles like Julie Su’s “economic justice” position raises questions.

Other picks, including Dean Fuleihan as first deputy mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as chief of staff, mix campaign loyalists with seasoned operators. If competence truly guides Mamdani’s choices as claimed, results must outshine any ideological fanfare.

Ultimately, as Mamdani steps into a city hungry for stability, not experiments, his last-minute scramble will test whether practicality or politics shapes his legacy from day one.