Mamdani Announces $25 Million Winter Emergency Plan for New York City

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a $25 million expansion of New York City's emergency cold-weather response on Monday. The plan follows a harsh first winter for his administration that included a prolonged cold snap and a major blizzard.

The initiative will add hundreds of street outreach workers, 800 shelter beds and more mobile medical teams to assist homeless residents during extreme cold. The city will also expand snowplow routes and equipment, focusing on bus stops, crosswalks and other pedestrian areas.

“We have spent the past year preparing for any challenge winter throws our way.”

Last winter's weather killed 18 people, according to Streetsblog New York. AmNewYork reported that 19 people were found dead outdoors during the cold snap by mid-February, while seven others died of hypothermia inside private residences, though not all outdoor deaths were confirmed as cold-related.

The deaths prompted a February City Council hearing where lawmakers questioned whether the emergency outreach system adequately reached people at risk. Mamdani said his administration trained workers, readied equipment and strengthened protocols over the past year.

The plan includes new protocols with JCDecaux and Citi Bike to clear bus stops and bike-share infrastructure faster. However, a City Hall spokesperson said conversations with the private companies are ongoing and include clearer expectations for their responsibilities.

Lyft, which operates Citi Bike, committed to keeping the system running throughout the winter. Spokesperson CJ Macklin said the company is working with the mayor's office and the Department of Transportation on updated winter weather protocols.

Federal forecasters predict a warmer, wetter winter for much of the East Coast due to a strong El Niño. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cautioned that its seasonal forecast does not predict snowfall totals, which generally cannot be forecast more than a week in advance.