Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s response to the January 2026 snowstorm drew some initial praise for proactivity, with visible efforts like plowing coordination and personal appearances.But the shoveling photo ops were widely dismissed as a PR gimmick—clumsy, back-straining stunts for the cameras rather than real leadership, while actual cleanup lagged. Streets, sidewalks, bus stops, and crosswalks in outer boroughs like Queens and Staten Island remained buried in massive piles or ice for days or even a week later, with cars trapped, trash accumulating, and residents struggling to dig out.
Homeless froze to death
Worse, his policy shift away from forced encampment sweeps and involuntary removals proved callous: at least 10–14 people died from exposure during the prolonged freeze, many homeless and previously known to services, far exceeding typical tolls under predecessors like Adams or de Blasio who prioritized clearing encampments and bringing vulnerable people indoors during Code Blue alerts.
Critics blasted it as deadly “kindness,” letting people freeze rather than mandating shelter—unlike even criticized past mayors who acted decisively on homelessness in storms. The honeymoon’s over.
BREAKING – NYC residents are furious and demanding answers as garbage and filthy snow continue to pile up on the streets a full week after a snowstorm, with many wondering how it could possibly still look like this. pic.twitter.com/mOiBYvrbBC
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) February 1, 2026
All it took was one storm and Mamdani transformed NYC into the slums of India in less than a week. pic.twitter.com/PtCi3NdQgW
— Ty’s Tough Talk🇺🇸 (@toughtalkty) February 1, 2026
Sitting in a taxi trying to get to an appointment. Should take 20 minutes, we are at an hour and ten minutes and counting. The streets are a disaster. It hasn’t snowed in 5 days and the streets still haven’t been cleared. Poor ambulance sitting in aessentially a parking lot with… pic.twitter.com/1FzbguGkeL
— Debra Messing (@_debramessing) January 31, 2026
In case you think she voted for this – she was one of the smarter ones!
“I voted for Cuomo because he has decades of experience and, you know, it does not feel safe in New York right now. I understand the passions behind Mamdani. He’s young and enthusiastic, but he’s never had a job. He’s 33 years old, and New York City is the financial center of our country and I don’t think he has the experience for the job.”
Debra Messinger
Not a good week for the mayor!
“We know about your mom” 📢
— USA NEWS 🇺🇸 (@usanewshq) February 2, 2026
🚨 Zohran Mamdani supporters show up outside his mansion to protest after his family was mentioned in the Epstein files, and speculation arose that he could be Jeffrey Epstein’s biological son.
“Shame” “Shame” “Shame” https://t.co/rktsmY2ojR pic.twitter.com/FUPO5ONNac