SXSWORLD

1 2 SXS W O R L D | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 | SXSW.COM Yes He Khan! London's First Muslim Mayor Looks to the Future By Serena Kutchinsky London, May 2016. The spirit of change is in the air as the British capital has become the first major western city to elect a Muslim mayor. Labour MP (Member of Parliament) Sadiq Khan has defeated his ring-wing opponent, the wealthy Zac Goldsmith, winning the biggest personal mandate in British elec- toral history. "Growing up in a council flat in south London, I never imagined that one day I'd be Mayor of London — but this city made it possible," Khan reflects. Khan's story is perfect political myth fodder. One of eight siblings and the son of a bus driver, a fact he was mocked for oversharing during the campaign, this first generation Brit is the son of Pakistani immigrants. His brothers run a boxing gym in his old neighborhood, where Khan is occasionally spotted handing out trophies and posing for mag- azine photo shoots that reflect his "local boy made good" status. The symbolism of his victory has reso- nated globally, partly because his story is so relatable. He's the trainee solicitor sleeping in a bunk bed at his parents' house to save for a house deposit. The human rights lawyer fighting injustice. The aspiring politician sacrificing his career to serve his community. He's the proud Londoner, who when asked if visiting Pakistan felt "like coming home" replied, "Home is south London, mate." It has even been suggested that Khan could be "London's Obama." The parallels are clear: like Obama, Khan offers hope to those feeling excluded as a result of ethnicity and/or religion. "London is full of people of different faiths and back- grounds, and that is one of our greatest strengths," he says. In a city where Muslim terrorists have killed 69 and injured hundreds since 2005, Khan's elec- tion is proof that Islam and democracy are not mutually exclusive. But symbolism can only get you so far. A backdrop of political turmoil has at times overshadowed Khan's agenda. First was the shock of the Brexit vote, a month after he took off ice, followed by the terror attacks at Westminster and London Bridge, and the Grenfell Tower f ire. Khan has somehow found the right response to help the city heal, and a recent YouGov poll found that 58% of Londoners thought he was doing a good job. "London is open," he proclaimed in the wake of the vote to leave the European Union. Under Khan's leadership, it seems that is truly the case. Not just open for business, but open-minded, liberal and tolerant. Khan's London is a place where anything is possible for those who dream big and work hard. That vision is clear in the way he presents the city, and himself, to the world. In July, he became the first mayor to lead the city's LGBT Pride parade, telling the crowd that those celebrations were the "best antidote" to terror and tragedy. His determination to put the needs of Londoners first is evident in his effort to revive the city's nightlife. Despite London's reputation as a party cap- ital, it has suffered a decade of decline. "London has lost a third of its grass- roots music venues and half of its nightclubs," says Khan. Gentrification is usually to blame, causing spikes in rents, property prices and local council restrictions. Khan understands the role nightlife plays in shaping a city's DNA and the value (London's night time economy is worth £26 billion) of letting people party. From spearheading the much-delayed opening of the night tube subway — which served over nine million pas- sengers in its f irst year — to f ighting the closure of the famous fabric night- club, Khan has committed to helping London "retain its status as a 24-hour city." He even created the role of Night Czar, a post currently occupied by comedian, club-promoter and LGBT activist Amy Lamé. Her role, says Khan, is to "work with businesses, councils, developers, residents and workers to mediate, f ind solutions and protect London's nightlife." The idea was inspired by similar schemes in Berlin and Amsterdam, both cities where after-dark culture thrives. Unlike her foreign counterparts, Lamé was directly appointed by the mayor, and together they have proved a formidable pair, including overseeing the scrapping of Form 696 — a risk assessment for events featuring DJs and MCs, which introduced in 2005 after a spate of shootings at club nights which Lamé says was used "in an allegedly racist way" by the police. "I want to sweep away the view that it is the police versus partygoers," says Lamé. "I know from working on the front- line of the night-time economy for over 20 years how easy it is to get into an oppositional mindset." The symbolism of his victory has resonated globally, partly because his story is so relatable.

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