Mamdani announces $25M expansion of NYC cold-weather response

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Monday a $25 million expansion of New York City's emergency cold-weather response, along with changes to snow and ice clearing. The announcement follows a harsh first winter for his administration. By mid-February, 19 people had been found dead outdoors during a prolonged cold snap, though not all of those deaths were confirmed to have been caused by the cold. Seven others had died of hypothermia inside private residences.

The expanded Code Blue system would add more than 300 canvassers, who would cover 75% of locations where homeless people are known to stay. NYC Health + Hospitals would deploy up to 55 mobile medical units. The administration says it is adding more than 600 single- and double-occupancy rooms, providing 800 shelter beds on the coldest days. The announcement did not say where the rooms will be or when they will be available, and City Hall gave no breakdown of how the money will be divided.

At a February City Council hearing, lawmakers questioned whether outreach was adequately reaching people at risk. Council Speaker Julie Menin said, "These deaths are not inevitable."

On snow, the Department of Sanitation added eight snowplow routes on Staten Island, acquired 120 snow blowers for bus stops and crosswalks, and fitted 678 plows and spreaders with new blades. It also added bus stops, sidewalks and crosswalks to its snow removal maps.