Mayor Mamdani takes the rap for mishaps around warming buses for homeless people

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken responsibility for a series of blunders surrounding warming buses intended to help homeless New Yorkers cope with the frigid temperatures, which have claimed at least 17 lives.

The mayor acknowledged that a breakdown in communication had occurred between officials overseeing the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Manhattan and those directing homeless individuals to two warming buses parked outside. Unfortunately, these buses were often difficult to find due to inadequate signage, exacerbating the issue.

Mamdani has vowed to rectify this situation by ensuring that areas with warming buses have clear and additional signs to guide people to these facilities. This move comes as civil rights attorney Norman Siegel expressed relief that the mayor recognizes the mistakes made and is willing to correct them.

Siegel, who leads a volunteer group advocating for homeless individuals, had previously alerted several employees at the ferry terminal about the availability of warming buses and urged them to spread the word. However, officials often instructed homeless people to leave the waiting area after several hours, leaving many vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.

The attorney likened the situation to a classic case of "the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing." Despite this, Siegel's team successfully convinced at least six individuals to take shelter in one of the warming buses, which had limited seating capacity. He plans to revisit the ferry terminal again on Thursday night to continue helping those in need.

The city has deployed a fleet of 20 warming buses across New York City, but their locations are often unclear due to inadequate signage. As the situation remains dire, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that these buses are accessible and well-promoted to those who rely on them for survival.

omg I'm still trying to figure out how they managed to mess up something so simple Like, come on, make sure the info gets from ferry terminal to warming bus people! it's a classic case of miscommunication and I'm actually kinda impressed that Siegel was able to get 6 people into one of those buses despite all the red tape hopefully they can get those signs fixed ASAP so ppl don't have to suffer in the cold

"Complacency kills creativity." I think this whole warming bus debacle just highlights how much we're all missing the ball when it comes to supporting our most vulnerable citizens. It's like, come on guys, a little signage wouldn't kill anyone!

I'm like totally surprised that Mayor Mamdani is taking responsibility for this mess . I mean, he's acknowledging the communication breakdown, but isn't that just a bit obvious? Like, didn't we all see it coming? But hey, at least he's trying to fix the signage thing, so that's a good start, right?

I'm still not convinced, though. How can we be sure that this won't happen again? It's like, just because someone says sorry and promises to do better doesn't necessarily mean they'll follow through . I mean, what if the signs aren't up in time or something? That would just be a total fail .

But, on the other hand, maybe this is just an opportunity for some real change? Like, maybe we can use this as a chance to rethink our whole system and make it way more efficient . I mean, if Norman Siegel's team was able to get people into those warming buses despite all the obstacles, that's pretty impressive .

Ugh, I'm so conflicted about this . Part of me is like "yeah, good for you, Mayor Mamdani!", but another part of me is all like "wait and see, dude..."

I was just thinking about how much I love trying out new restaurants in the city like, have you tried that new ramen place downtown? I mean, it's not fancy or anything but their tonkotsu is TO DIE FOR! anyway, back to NYC... I heard they're having some issues with the warming buses and I'm like, what's wrong with just putting up a big sign that says "WARM BUSES HERE" ? And don't even get me started on how hard it is to find them sometimes... my friend's cousin works at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and she said they have to go through so many hoops to get directions to those buses. Like, why can't they just make it easy peasy?!

OMG this is so sad !!! how can people die like that? 17 lives lost my heart goes out to all the homeless folks struggling in NYC we need more warming buses ASAP and better signage too, can you imagine not knowing where they are?! anyway, I'm glad the mayor is taking responsibility and making changes let's hope it makes a difference for those in need

The situation with the warming buses in NYC is really concerning . I mean, we all know how harsh winters can be, especially when you're living on the streets . It's unacceptable that officials didn't get it right from the start - no clear signage at key locations like ferry terminals is just a recipe for disaster .

I think Mayor Mamdani is taking steps in the right direction by adding more signs, but we need to make sure these buses are easily accessible and visible to those who need them most . It's also worrying that some people were being told to leave the waiting area after just a few hours - what if they couldn't find another spot? .

We should be praising officials for finally acknowledging their mistakes, but it's also time to question why this didn't happen sooner . The fact that Norman Siegel and his team had to take matters into their own hands is just sad . We need more efforts like this to support our most vulnerable citizens .

I'm so frustrated about this NYC warming bus debacle! The city needs to get their act together when it comes to helping homeless people survive the cold weather. It's not rocket science, folks! They just need to make sure those buses are easily accessible and visible to everyone in need. I mean, come on, 20 buses deployed across the city with questionable signage? That's just cruel. And it's not like they're invisible or anything... anyone can Google their locations (if they have a phone, that is). It's time for some common sense and clear communication! We need to see more action from our leaders, not just lip service.

idk how much of a diff good signage would make tho like if ppl cant even find the thing cuz they forgot where the buses are parked lol anyway i feel bad 4 those homeless folks who got caught in the cold but the mayor doing somethin about it is a step in da right direction hopefully more ppl will get involved to help out too

I feel kinda bad for the mayor ... I mean, he's taking responsibility and trying to fix the problem, which is awesome! It's easy to blame him and think he's not doing enough, but let's be real, it's a complex issue with multiple factors at play . The fact that they were trying to help homeless folks in the first place is something to be praised ... it just didn't quite work out as planned .

I also gotta give some props to Norman Siegel , he's been doing some amazing advocacy for his team and trying to make a difference . It's not easy fighting against system issues, but he's not giving up ! And yeah, the city needs to get those signs up ASAP ... it's just basic human decency .

I'm really disappointed in how this whole thing went down . I mean, 17 people have died because of a broken system? That's just heartbreaking. It's clear that there was some major miscommunication going on, and it's like the left hand and right hand were speaking different languages. The fact that those warming buses are hard to find is ridiculous – can't you even put up some decent signs?! I mean, come on, we're talking about people's lives here. It's not just about being able to find a bus, it's about finding one that can actually help someone survive the night.

I'm glad that Norman Siegel is stepping in and helping out, though. He's like a beacon of hope in this situation . And I agree with him – more needs to be done to make sure these buses are accessible and promoted to those who need them most. It's just basic human decency, right? We should be able to rely on our system to get us through the tough times, not have to fight for it.

I hope Mayor Mamdani really takes this situation seriously and makes some real changes . We can't keep relying on Band-Aids when people are literally freezing to death outside. It's time for a more systemic solution that actually works

This is so unfair . Like, can't they see how hard ppl struggling with homelessness r? ‍ It's not just about the buses, it's about visibility and clear info . The gov should be doin more , like invest in better signage & marketing campaigns to reach those who need 'em most .

It's good 2 hear Mayor Mamdani takin responsibility ‍ though! Hopefully, they'll get it right next time . I mean, who wouldn't wanna help ppl struggling in the cold ? It's like, basic human decency .

I'm telling you, this whole warming bus debacle is a classic case of bureaucratic bungling ! I mean, come on, 17 lives lost to hypothermia? That's unconscionable. And now the mayor's trying to blame it all on communication breakdowns between agencies? Give me a break! It's like they're saying "we didn't know our own buses were out there" .

And what really gets my goat is that we're still relying on volunteers like Norman Siegel to get the word out about these warming buses. I mean, shouldn't our city be doing more to help its most vulnerable citizens? It's like they're saying "sorry, not sorry" to those who are struggling to survive on the streets .

And have you seen the signs around these warming buses? They're like, what, 2 feet tall and faded at that? You gotta know where to look to find them! That's just unacceptable. We need more resources, better signage, and a whole lot more transparency from our city leaders .

OMG, can you believe the city's warming bus system is already causing so much trouble? I mean, 17 people have lost their lives because of this... it's just heartbreaking . The lack of clear signage and communication between officials is just ridiculous . It's like they're expecting people to magically know where these buses are located!

I'm glad Norman Siegel stepped in to help, though. Those volunteers must be doing some amazing work behind the scenes . But seriously, this whole situation needs a major overhaul. We need better coordination and more visible signage so that people can actually find these buses when they need them most .

And let's not forget, there are 20 warming buses out there, but they're not even easily accessible . It's like the city is just dropping off the ball on this one... . We need to do better for our homeless population. They deserve so much more than to be left shivering in the cold .

Ugh, NYC's got some 'splainin' to do ! Can you believe they had warming buses just chillin' outside, but people couldn't find 'em? It's like they were hiding in plain sight... or not . Clearer signs, yeah, that's a great idea! I mean, it's not rocket science, right? Just put up some decent signage and you'd think everyone would be able to figure it out . But hey, at least the mayor's taking responsibility for the mess. And kudos to this civil rights attorney guy, Norman Siegel – sounds like he's on a mission to help those in need . More warming buses and better signage? Sounds like a plan! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go find some hot chocolate and pretend it's a different problem... ️

Ugh, this warming bus thingy has got me so frustrated ! Like, can't they just get the signage right? I mean, 20 buses scattered all over the city and nobody knows where to find 'em? It's like, what kind of city doesn't have good signage? And now people are dying because of it? Unbelievable!

And don't even get me started on the whole "left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing" thing. That's just a fancy way of saying they messed up . But seriously, how hard is it to coordinate between different departments and make sure people know where these buses are? It's not rocket science, folks!

I'm glad Norman Siegel is on the case though . He's like the hero this city needs. And I hope those officials at the ferry terminal start listening to him for a change . We need to get these buses out there and make sure people know about them ASAP . Come on, NYC! Get it together!

I think this whole thing is just a big mess... like the city's warming bus system was meant to help people but instead its kinda broken And now the mayor is saying sorry and trying to fix it, which is cool, I guess But what about all those people who got stuck outside in the cold? Like, 17 lives are already lost... that's crazy It feels like they're just kinda... winging it at this point. We need better signs and more transparency so these buses don't get left behind I hope Norman Siegel's group can keep helping people until things get sorted out