As New York City braced to get pummeled by the potentially historic 2026 blizzard, Nassau County executive and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Republican challenger in the governor’s race Bruce Blakeman slammed the city’s ID requirements for shoveling volunteers.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani closed city schools and shut down city streets to all non-essential travelers from 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, to noon on Monday, Feb. 23, in anticipation of up to 18 inches of snow in and around the city.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, also appealed to any city residents looking to lend a helping hand and earn a few extra dollars during the snowstorm by asking for emergency snow shovelers. Depending on how many hours you work, you could make over $28 per hour. Some Republican officials criticized the request’s requirement that you need to provide your Social Security card and two original forms of ID, plus copies of them.
“Mamdani opposes requiring ID’s to vote — but mandates no less than 5 forms of ID in order to shovel snow,” Blakeman said in a Feb. 22 Facebook post. “It’s insane!”
Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, also questioned the requirements.
“First you needed a vaccine card to enter a restaurant. Now you need multiple IDs to shovel snow. But somehow requiring an ID to vote is “racist,” Malliotakis said in an X post on Feb. 22.
What Mamdani says about New York City snow shoveler IDs
Mamdani explained details of the policy during a media conference on Feb. 22, calling it a longstanding program and requirement that allows New Yorkers to get paid for work during an emergency. He noted federal law requires employers, including New York City, to verify IDs in order to pay employees.
“We are not allowed to just cut checks to individuals for their work,” he said, adding “these are the policies that we’ve had in place, but I understand that for many this is the first time they’ve heard about it.”
Here’s how state officials prepared New Yorkers for extreme weather.
State officials take to social media to share NYC storm prep tips
Both Hochul and Mamdani shared videos to social media ahead of the storm to help New Yorkers prepare for the incoming severe weather.
Mamdani’s what-to-know-type video on X on Saturday, Feb. 21, showed him walking through parts of the city and explaining how the city has prepared for the snowstorm, including deploying emergency snow shovelers, deploying warming buses, spaces and centers around the city and having additional snow-clearing equipment on hand.
The mayor also advocated for residents in the social media post by reminding property owners to clear walkways and said any 311 calls about homeless residents in need will be rerouted to 911.
“If you can stay home, stay home,” Mamdani said in the video. “If you must travel, use public transit … This winter has tested us, but spring is right around the corner.”
And Hochul shared the following snow safety tips with New Yorkers to X on Saturday:
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Why did NYC require ID for snow shoveling? What to know
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
