New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is under fire from all directions over his handling of the recent snowstorm that has brought the Big Apple to a halt.Downtown Manhattan received 11.4 inches of snow in last weekend’s blizzard, according to CBS News. Though the development led to scenes of New Yorkers frolicking in the unplowed streets in the immediate aftermath, the novelty wore off quickly as uncollected garbage piles displaced walls of snow streetside.
The death toll, moreover, reached 16 by Monday, while the backlash to Mamdani’s leadership has crossed the political aisle and attracted criticism from even those within his movement. Despite the array of criticism, however, Mamdani’s popularity remains strong. Overall, 48% of New Yorkers across the state had a favorable view of him in a recent Siena College poll, which surveyed voters after the snow arrived. Just 32% had an unfavorable view of him.
In New York City specifically, however, Mamdani enjoyed a 68% approval rating and a 20% unfavorable rating. The NYC suburbs, however, awarded him a 35% approval rating and a 47% unfavorable rating. Conducted Jan. 26-28, the survey questioned 802 registered voters in New York state and has a margin of error of +/- 4.3%.
His own supporters plead for help: “Being homeless shouldn’t be a death sentence”
Members of Mamdani’s Democratic Socialists of America, including existing city lawmakers, have highlighted the situation and taken to social media to urge concrete action from the mayor.
“[Mayor Mamdani] we need your help in finding temporary placement for residents who have been impacted by Sunday’s snowstorm caused blackout,” posted city councilmember Chi Ossé.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, moreover, fumed over the death toll, openly breaking with Mamdani over his refusal to relocate the homeless population ahead of severe weather. “Being homeless shouldn’t be a death sentence,” he said, adding that “[y]ou can’t let the people stay out there. These are people in crisis.”
His opposition blames Mandani’s lack of planning and experience
The death toll, moreover, hit 16 by Monday, Mamdani announced. Thirteen of those deaths came from hypothermia while a further three were the result of overdoses. Mamdani’s political opposition directly attributed those deaths to a change in policy the mayor implemented to end the relocation of homeless people off the streets ahead of severe weather.
“New York City has just experienced what it means to have a Democrat-Communist mayor,” posted former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. “The policy of NYC before, during, and after I was Mayor was to remove homeless people from the streets when it approached freezing. The incumbent mayor has changed that policy. During the recent storm, at least ten people were found dead on the streets. Isn’t this tantamount to—at minimum—reckless disregard for human life? Will there be any accountability?”
Republican city councilwoman Vickie Paladino, for her part, could not feign surprise at the response.
“Did anyone think he had any plan for any of this?” she asked, referring to Mamdani. “He’s a 33-year-old rich kid with zero work experience and even less life experience. He has no idea how anything works. He was a member of the assembly for a few years and barely even showed up. The people he surrounds himself with are just like him. He got elected on vibes by transplants. What did you honestly think was going to happen?”
Famous residents: “The streets are a disaster”
“Yes, there’s always snow in NYC. It’s never been perfect. We get it,” posted comedian Michael Rapaport, an NYC local. “But you Zoron the Moron campaigned on ‘change’ and ‘new ideas.’ Eight days after the storm we still got dog shit, piss piles, and dirty snowbergs on every corner. So what exactly is new?”
“Will & Grace” actress Debra Messing, for her part, appeared to take a dig at Mamdani on Saturday, referencing the failure of the city to properly plow the streets.
“Sitting in a taxi trying to get to an appointment. Should take 20 minutes, we are at an hour and ten minutes and counting,” she posted on X. “The streets are a disaster. It hasn’t snowed in 5 days and the streets still haven’t been cleared. Poor ambulance sitting in essentially a parking lot with sirens going. I’m praying for the person needing emergency care. I’ve lived here for 15 years (this go around) and this has never happened. The plows have always worked around the clock to get the city back to working. I wonder what happened?”
Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.
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