Mayor Zoran Mamdani was seen trying to assist a Brooklyn resident in clearing snow off their car following Winter Storm Fern. However, his technique with the shovel left much to be desired.
A video shared by ABC7 captures Mamdani without a hat, seemingly disregarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s safety tips on proper snow shoveling, which emphasize using knees instead of straining the back. Instead, he appeared to lift the heavy shovel awkwardly.
This approach sharply contrasted with Hochul’s advice, which she offered during a briefing on snow safety. She reminded New Yorkers to “not bend down to shovel,” but rather to protect their lower backs by bending their knees.
She also advised against overloading shovels, recalling instances where oversized shovels caused health issues for some individuals. “It’s better to tackle smaller amounts of snow gradually,” she suggested, emphasizing that excessive lifting can be hazardous.
After a video of Mamdani’s snow shoveling efforts in Williamsburg gained attention online, Hochul reached out directly to him, humorously noting the importance of keeping warm.
“Thank you for helping out your neighbors, but keep your hat on!” she posted on X.
In his inaugural speech, Mamdani, a democratic socialist, expressed his desire to replace individualism with a spirit of community. Yet, during his recent interactions, some felt he wasn’t demonstrating that warmth.
On another occasion, while helping a security guard stranded on the Triborough Bridge, he expressed concern for the guard’s wellbeing, advising him to zip up his jacket against the cold. The guard replied that the zipper was broken.
Mamdani then launched into a commentary about the needs of New Yorkers and the city’s commitment to assist. However, a reporter quickly pointed out the inconsistency, asking if he had given the guard a new jacket.
To this, the mayor replied, “No, I actually put him in the car and gave him warmers. We got the fever back up.”
