Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a $25 million investment to broaden New York City’s Code Blue program and strengthen the city’s winter‑weather response. The funding will fund additional outreach teams, more warming‑center beds and expanded snow‑clearing capabilities, aiming to keep vulnerable residents safe during extreme cold.
Expanded outreach and shelter capacity
The city will deploy more than 300 new canvassers across the five boroughs to connect at‑risk New Yorkers with shelter and services. NYC Health + Hospitals will also increase the number of WARM mobile units that deliver medical care and transport people to warming centers and other safe locations. Shelter capacity will rise by over 800 beds, and additional warming centers will open during severe weather events.
Snow‑removal and ice‑control upgrades
The Department of Sanitation is bolstering its snow‑and‑ice operations with over 2,200 vehicles that can be converted into snowplows, 700 salt spreaders and a stockpile of 500 million pounds of salt for the season. The city has also acquired 120 snow blowers and raised the hourly wage for emergency snow shovelers to $30.
Public‑health guidance
NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell emphasized the danger winter weather poses to vulnerable populations and urged residents to review heating safety plans. The city reminded tenants of their legal right to heat and hot water from October 1 through May 31, with minimum temperature standards of 62 °F overnight and 68 °F during the day when outdoor temperatures fall below 55 °F.
How residents can stay safe
New Yorkers can text NOTIFYNYC to 692‑692 or download the city’s app for real‑time alerts. The city also provided resources on energy‑cost assistance, fire safety, and protecting pipes from freezing. Property owners must keep a four‑foot‑wide clear path on sidewalks for wheelchairs and strollers, and homeowners are encouraged to take steps to prevent pipe bursts.
Opportunities for community involvement
Residents interested in helping with snow removal can register as Emergency Snow Shovelers at nyc.gov/snowemploy, earning $30 per hour while keeping pedestrian routes safe.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
