Mayor Zohran Mamdani weathered his first major snowstorm as city leader with flying colors, but not without some familiar complaints. The Democratic mayor, who campaigned on being highly visible and approachable, proved that campaign promise by braving the snowy streets of Brooklyn, helping stranded drivers shovel their cars out of the mess, and even inviting kids to throw a snowball at him.
As New York City struggled to keep up with the deluge of over a foot of snow in some areas, Mamdani and city officials maintained a positive tone, touting the city's preparations and response efforts. "New York was prepared and New York weathered the storm," he said, as officials claimed every street had been plowed multiple times.
However, not everyone was pleased with the results. Many residents, including 53-year-old Fort Greene resident Denorval Parks, expressed frustration that more wasn't being done to clear streets sooner. "It's been getting done, but faster would've been better because New York is the city that never sleeps," he said.
The mayor's efforts to engage with residents also drew some criticism. In one instance, a 63-year-old resident at the Walt Whitman Houses told Gothamist she hadn't seen her building's front shoveled as of Monday morning, leaving her worried about the safety of trudging through icy sidewalks.
While Mamdani faced no major gaffes during the storm, he did draw some criticism for remote school day logistics. Parents complained that signing their kids up for virtual learning was a messy process, and some even reported technical issues with the city's online platform.
Despite these complaints, Mayor Richards praised Mamdani for his efforts, saying he had done an "outstanding job" of being visible and addressing areas beyond Manhattan that historically feel neglected during snowstorms. The Queens Borough President acknowledged that there was still work to be done, but said he would reserve a clearer assessment for later in the week.
One thing is clear: Mayor Mamdani's first test as city leader has shown him to be more than up to the challenge – and with a sense of humor and humility that is already winning over many New Yorkers.
As New York City struggled to keep up with the deluge of over a foot of snow in some areas, Mamdani and city officials maintained a positive tone, touting the city's preparations and response efforts. "New York was prepared and New York weathered the storm," he said, as officials claimed every street had been plowed multiple times.
However, not everyone was pleased with the results. Many residents, including 53-year-old Fort Greene resident Denorval Parks, expressed frustration that more wasn't being done to clear streets sooner. "It's been getting done, but faster would've been better because New York is the city that never sleeps," he said.
The mayor's efforts to engage with residents also drew some criticism. In one instance, a 63-year-old resident at the Walt Whitman Houses told Gothamist she hadn't seen her building's front shoveled as of Monday morning, leaving her worried about the safety of trudging through icy sidewalks.
While Mamdani faced no major gaffes during the storm, he did draw some criticism for remote school day logistics. Parents complained that signing their kids up for virtual learning was a messy process, and some even reported technical issues with the city's online platform.
Despite these complaints, Mayor Richards praised Mamdani for his efforts, saying he had done an "outstanding job" of being visible and addressing areas beyond Manhattan that historically feel neglected during snowstorms. The Queens Borough President acknowledged that there was still work to be done, but said he would reserve a clearer assessment for later in the week.
One thing is clear: Mayor Mamdani's first test as city leader has shown him to be more than up to the challenge – and with a sense of humor and humility that is already winning over many New Yorkers.
I'm kinda surprised no one was like, totally mad at the mayor for not clearing the streets faster lol. I mean, he did do some awesome stuff like going out into the snow himself and helping people shovel their cars. But it's also cool that he still kept a positive vibe going even when things weren't perfect. Like, who hasn't had to deal with annoying bureaucracy sometimes? 
