Wondering About the Swearing-In

In yesterday's Register-Star article, it was revealed that Mayor-elect Joe Ferris is planning a ceremonial swearing-in at Hudson Hall on Saturday, January 3. The time of that event was not disclosed, and an email to Ferris inquiring about his plans for the swearing-in has not yet been answered.

Photo: Times Union

The first mayor in this century to be sworn in at Hudson Hall was Rick Rector in 2018. The ceremony took place at noon at January 1.

Two years later, Kamal Johnson was sworn in at Hudson Hall on January 1, in a ceremony that fairly closely replicated what had been done in 2018. 

In 2018 and 2020, the swearing-in ceremony was open to all, and each time the auditorium at Hudson Hall was filled.

 

In 2022, during the height of the pandemic, the swearing-in ceremony was moved to the Central Fire Station, and attendance was limited to invited guests of those being sworn in. Breaking with what had been tradition, the swearing-in took place not on January 1 but on January 2.

In 2024, although the pandemic was over, the swearing-in once again took place at the Central Fire Stati0n on January 2, and attendance was again limited to guests of those being sworn in. 

In 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, it was not only the mayor who was sworn in but also the Common Council president and all the members of the Common Council, as well as some mayoral appointees. It is not clear if Ferris plans to follow this practice, but it doesn't seem so. All the members of the Council that Gossips has asked know nothing of any plans for them to be part of the swearing-in ceremony on January 3.

Update: An hour and a half after this post was published, Joe Ferris responded to my email inquiry. The ceremonial swearing-in will take at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Hudson Hall.

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