Criticism mounts as Mayor Zohran Mamdani refuses to expand forced shelter rules during New York’s deadly deep freeze, with 18 deaths reported and vulnerable homeless residents still on the streets.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing mounting criticism after refusing to expand involuntary removal of homeless residents during extreme winter conditions, as the city’s weather related death toll climbed to 18.
Advocates and former officials say the administration’s “last resort” policy — which allows authorities to force someone indoors only if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others — left vulnerable people exposed to life threatening temperatures.
Brian Stettin, a former senior adviser in the Eric Adams administration, called the approach “infuriating,” arguing that emergency conditions should override ideological debates. “When a person is in imminent danger, there is no debate. They should be doing everything possible to get them inside,” he said.
Reports described a homeless woman spending nights outdoors near a Manhattan hospital despite freezing temperatures, with first responders saying they could not remove her under current guidelines.
Policy clash with other cities
The controversy intensified after Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott ordered police to bring homeless residents indoors during the cold even if they refused assistance, calling the weather a life and death issue.
City Hall defended its stance, saying legal standards in New York differ and the policy remains unchanged from previous administrations. However, critics argue the mayor has discretion in emergencies and should act more aggressively to prevent deaths.
Former city comptroller Scott Stringer said the priority should be survival. “You bring them in and deal with the legal questions later,” he said.
Growing political pressure
Council sources said sanitation workers were instructed only to organize belongings at encampments rather than clear them, while police were limited in enforcement actions — adding to confusion across agencies.
The dispute highlights a broader debate over civil liberties versus public safety, as temperatures in parts of the city dropped below levels recorded in Antarctica.
With winter conditions continuing, pressure is mounting on the administration to reconsider whether voluntary outreach alone is enough to protect the homeless population.
