When the cold is deadly
Hello from a very cold New York City #145
On Saturday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave an update on the snowstorm that hit New York City last week and the stretch of brutal, single-digit temperatures that’s been around even longer. So far, at least 14 people were found dead on the city’s streets, and eight have been definitely linked to hypothermia. The others will have a cause of death confirmed by the medical examiner’s office, the mayor said.
Critics (from the New York Post to former Eric Adams staffers to people in Facebook comments) have pointed to these tragedies to say it’s all because the new mayor said last month he wouldn’t go after encampments on the city’s streets. Street homeless advocates have criticized the practice from previous mayors, notably Adams, citing stats like these:
Although more than 4,148 sweeps were conducted, not a single person was offered permanent shelter through housing-voucher applications, direct placements, or transfers to supportive housing, the numbers show.
In May, the city’s data showed that although 3,500 people were moved out of homeless encampments, just 114 were placed in shelters, according to Gothamist.
Others say allowing anyone to sleep on the street is ultimately cruel to them, keeping the most vulnerable in dire situations. The mayor said the city has involuntarily removed some New Yorkers to hospitals, and increased outreach to encourage others into shelters or hospitals. But it’s all a complicated situation, and not new. The most recent vital statistics data from the health department, from 2023, shows 29 deaths related to the cold.
My colleague Haidee Chu spoke to some New Yorkers living on the streets, showing their real-life challenges. William Galarza set up a tent in Union Square Park this week, unaware that there was even a snowstorm. He hadn’t yet been approached by any homeless outreach officials but wouldn’t be interested in shelter anyway, now that he had Casi, a tabby cat. Pets are usually not allowed in city shelters.
I encourage you to read her full story , and also David Brand from Gothamist/WNYC’s story about one of the men who died on the street although he had an apartment.
Other interesting stories
🔸 Catching up on more appointees for Mayor Mamdani: new DCAS, Probation, and Environmental Protection commissioners, new correction, health, OATH and DYCD commissioners. There’s also a new “remediation manager” at Rikers.
🔸 There’s a $12 billion budget hole and Mamdani blamed Adams and Cuomo in a bizarre presser. More details here.
🔸 Speaking of Adams, the Mamdani administration is looking for ways to starve of resources the hastily-planned charter review commission he announced on his final day, staffed with many staffers who are presumably looking for something to do (the position is unpaid.) Politico has a good look at that here.
🔸 More details on the case against Ingrid Lewis-Martin.
🔸 Should we build more artist housing?
🔸 A delightful feature, with great photos and videos, about the tugboat cutting through ice to keep you warm during this freeze!
LISTEN
🎧Our latest FAQ NYC pod
🎧 Pilgrims — a special project from one of my favorite singers, Paul Noonan, and composter Brian Crosby — has a new album out called Wintering that I love so much after listening to it all week. You can grab on Spotify and Bandcamp and here’s a favorite:
🎧 Ye Vagabonds also has a great new album out called All Tied Together.
🎧 I also saw Heems at Baby’s All Right last night. Here’s one of my favorite songs (that he sadly didn’t play) because I have long loved my computers.
He did play this favorite:
Thanks for reading!