Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP / Getty Images
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took to the snowy streets of Brooklyn on Sunday to help residents dig out after a major winter storm blanketed the city with nearly a foot of snow.
Videos shared on social media showed the mayor shoveling snow around stranded vehicles at Myrtle Avenue and Franklin Avenue in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. In another clip, he was seen assisting a second car near Throop Avenue.
"As I have said, there is no task too big or no job too small. Happy to lend a hand and help out New Yorkers. Stay safe!" Mamdani wrote on social media after the videos circulated.
The winter storm that swept across the Northeast left significant accumulations, with Central Park recording 11.4 inches, a record for the day. Some parts of the region received up to 18 inches of snow.
The storm's impact has been severe. During a press conference, Mayor Mamdani confirmed that five people had died in New York City as temperatures plunged.
"While it's still too early to determine the causes of death, it is a reminder that every year New Yorkers succumb to the cold," he said. "The danger of this weather cannot be overstated."
The city has implemented several measures to address the storm's aftermath. Public schools are closed for in-person classes on Monday, with approximately 500,000 students across nearly 1,100 schools attending remotely. Ten warming centers have been opened across the city to support residents facing the bitter cold.
Transportation services have been significantly affected. Alternate side parking rules are suspended Monday to facilitate snow operations, though parking meters remain in effect. The Long Island Rail Road will operate on a Sunday schedule, while Metro North will run on a holiday schedule with additional rush hour trains. NJ Transit services, which were suspended Sunday, are expected to resume Monday, weather permitting.
Bone-chilling cold will persist in the coming days. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until February 3, meaning snow and ice will remain on the ground for at least another week.
As New Yorkers continue to dig out from the storm, Mayor Mamdani's hands-on approach has provided a visible example of leadership during the crisis, though the city still faces significant challenges in returning to normal operations.
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