Mamdani officials set to be questioned over 18 cold deaths

City Officials Face Scrutiny Over Handling of Extreme Cold Snap Amid 18 Deaths

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration is under fire after the death toll from the current cold snap rose to 18, with some councilmembers accusing officials of not doing enough to prevent these deaths. Administration officials from the Department of Social Services and public safety are set to appear at an oversight hearing on Tuesday.

The decision by Commissioner Molly Wasow Park to step down has added another layer of scrutiny for Mamdani's administration, which has been criticized for its handling of homeless encampments during the extreme weather conditions. The mayor had halted removals from these campsites, citing concerns that doing so would only disperse the homeless population.

However, some councilmembers, including Republican Joann Ariola, have accused city officials of not being aggressive enough in forcing homeless individuals to come indoors during dangerous weather conditions. Councilmember Crystal Hudson said it's shocking to see 18 people die in such a short time due to extreme weather conditions.

The oversight hearing on Tuesday will be the first test for Mamdani's administration since he took office, and it comes as some city officials are questioning whether the administration is adhering to freezing weather protocols that aim to fast-track individuals into shelters. The mayor has defended his decision to halt removals, arguing that they only dispersed the homeless population.

The hearing will also examine how effectively the city communicated its emergency measures to the homeless population. Norman Siegel, who runs a volunteer outreach group, said City Hall canceled monthly coordination meetings with Department of Social Services officials and struggled with signage for warming buses.

According to city data, around 860 people were served at warming centers over the coldest weekend of the year. However, Gothamist was denied access to observe conditions at one warming center near Times Square, and a reporter was not allowed to enter a warming van across the street due to "privacy concerns."

The oversight hearing is expected to shed light on how aggressively Mamdani's administration probes this critical issue, which has become a major concern for both Democrats and Republicans.

I'm so worried about these 18 people who lost their lives in the cold snap... It's crazy that we're having an oversight hearing to figure out what went wrong . Did you see those stats on warming centers? Only 860 people served?! That's like, a tiny fraction of those who needed help . And can you believe they didn't allow anyone to observe conditions at the warming center near Times Square? Like, what even is that? I've been seeing some pretty wild traffic patterns in NYC during extreme weather... have you checked out Google Maps' data on how much people are using public transportation vs. driving their cars? It's like they're saying one thing but doing another . Anyway, let's hope the oversight hearing sheds some real light on what went down

ugh 18 deaths in one cold snap is crazy I'm so sorry to those who lost loved ones the city should do better with homeless encampments they need more support & resources ASAP mamdani's team needs to be held accountable tho, maybe they were too cautious? still can't believe they had warming centers but people couldn't get in or see what was going on behind the scenes this oversight hearing is gonna expose a lot of issues

I'm really worried about what happened during that cold snap ... 18 deaths from extreme weather? That's just heartbreaking. I think city officials did the right thing by halting removals from homeless campsites, but at the same time, they should've done more to get people indoors when it was super cold outside .

It seems like there were some communication breakdowns between departments and not enough signs or info for people to know where to go for help . I mean, how are you supposed to know what's going on if nobody tells you? It's just basic human decency, you know?

I also feel bad that the city didn't have more warming centers open, especially considering how many people were served at those that were available (around 860, which is still nowhere near enough) . But I guess it's better than nothing.

I'm curious to see what comes out of this oversight hearing on Tuesday – maybe there'll be some real change made to prevent something like this from happening again in the future

Ugh just 18 people lost their lives in that cold snap ?! Can't believe the city officials didn't take action sooner ! They gotta do better with homeless shelters , especially during freezing temps . I mean, 860 people at warming centers isn't bad, but what about those who can't make it there? Councilmember Crystal Hudson is spot on - we need more urgency in handling this crisis !

As for the mayor's decision to halt removals from homeless campsites , it's a bit confusing. I get that it dispersed the population, but didn't they know some people would freeze or die during extreme weather? Can't wait for the oversight hearing to see what goes down ! And btw, why was Gothamist denied access to one warming center? Sounds super fishy !

idk why ppl r so mad at the mayor he just did what he thought was right considering the homeless situation in nyc its not like he can control the weather or something i mean 860 people served at warming centers isnt bad lol should be grateful they even have a place to go during extreme weather. councilmembers just wanna make a name for themselves by throwing around accusations about the mayor's admin. and btw, what's with the councilmember saying its shocking 18 ppl died from extreme weather? that's like, common sense bro

Oh man, 18 people lost their lives in that extreme cold snap ... it's just heartbreaking . City officials gotta do better especially when it comes to helping those homeless folks who are most vulnerable to harsh weather . It's not just about the numbers, but also how they're being treated and cared for . I mean, 860 people did find some warmth at warming centers , but what about the ones who didn't make it? That oversight hearing on Tuesday is gonna be a big deal ... hopefully it sparks some serious change !

This cold snap is getting out of hand... 18 people have lost their lives to it? It's just not right. I think city officials need to be held accountable for their actions. Mayor Mamdani's decision to halt removals from homeless encampments might've been a good idea, but the lack of communication and warming centers is what really matters here.

I'm so frustrated that Gothamist was denied access to observe conditions at one of those warming centers! Transparency is key in situations like this. And what's with the "privacy concerns" when it comes to reporting on public spaces? City officials need to do better. We, as citizens, have a right to know how our government is handling emergencies like this.

I'm really concerned about the handling of homeless encampments during extreme weather conditions in NYC . I think it's a big responsibility for city officials to ensure people's safety, but at the same time, you can't just disperse them without making sure they have warm places to go. It seems like there was a bit of a communication breakdown between City Hall and the Department of Social Services, which might have added to the problem .

I also think it's interesting that some councilmembers are questioning whether the administration is following freezing weather protocols that aim to get people into shelters faster . It seems like there should be a system in place to prioritize people who need help the most, and I hope the oversight hearing will shed some light on how well that's being executed .

Overall, I think it's great that we're having this conversation about public safety and making sure everyone has access to basic necessities, especially during extreme weather conditions .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around all these deaths. It feels like city officials are only now realizing the severity of their response (or lack thereof) to homeless encampments during extreme weather conditions. I mean, if they'd been more proactive about getting people indoors, maybe some of those lives could've been saved. The whole thing just seems so preventable .

The way NYC officials handled that cold snap was pretty messed up. 18 people die and it's like they didn't even try to do anything about it? I mean, come on, freezing temps are no joke! They should've been way more proactive in getting those homeless folks into shelters. And what's with the lack of info being shared with them? Norman Siegel's right, City Hall cancelled meetings and signage was basically non-existent... it's like they expected people to magically know what to do during an emergency

I don't get why the mayor is defending his decision to halt removals from homeless campsites. Doesn't that just push the problem further down the road? And 860 people served at warming centers over the weekend? That's barely a drop in the bucket compared to how many were affected by this cold snap

I'm so worried about those 18 people who lost their lives in the extreme cold snap ... I think city officials are right to face scrutiny, but they also deserve some understanding, you know? They're trying to balance helping people with homelessness while keeping them safe from freezing temperatures. I wish we had better systems in place for emergency situations like this... at least 860 people were served at warming centers, which is a good start ... but what if more could have been done? And why wasn't the public informed about conditions at warming centers? Transparency is key in situations like this

I gotta say, 18 deaths is just devastating ... I mean, what's the point of having emergency protocols if you're not gonna use 'em when it matters most? I'm all for compassion, but not at the expense of people's lives. The city needs to take responsibility for keeping its citizens safe, especially during extreme weather conditions. And yeah, I'm calling foul on the mayor's decision to halt removals from those homeless campsites - it just seemed like a Band-Aid solution . What really gets me is that some councilmembers are questioning whether the city was transparent about emergency measures... if City Hall wasn't communicating with the homeless population, how were they supposed to know what to do?