New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing a backlash after asking residents to keep their air conditioning at 78F as the city suffers sweltering temperatures expected to last for days.
The Democratic Socialist announced on X that the soaring temperatures can strain the power grid, which is working ‘overtime.’
‘Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can,’ he wrote.
‘Our city is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment.
‘A stable grid means the AC stays on and lives are saved. Let’s ease demand and get through the heat — together.’
Mamdani’s post gained traction online, with many complaining about his request to keep air-conditioning units set just under 80 degrees.
‘Mr Mayor will you consider turning off all the bright lights illuminating billboards, and all the Times Square LED billboards? Surely multinational corporations’ bottom line is not more important than the lives of the vulnerable among us?’ one commenter asked.
‘As a New Yorker I’ll be setting my AC to 62 degrees for the foreseeable future as a direct retaliation to your authority,’ another wrote.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has advised residents to keep their air conditioning units at 78 degrees Fahrenheit amid a heat wave. He was seen jumping in an East Harlem public pool last week as temperatures soar
The Big Apple is under an extreme heat warning as temperatures are expected to hit 100 degrees. The struggle for shade became very real for New Yorkers in Central Park this week
New Yorkers have been asked to conserve energy as power companies brace for grid issues. Some residents were seen finding shade in a park on Wednesday to beat the heat
‘Instead of micromanaging how New Yorkers use electricity in their own homes, city leadership should focus on delivering the reliable power needed for people to stay cool and comfortable,’ a third said.
‘Telling residents to sweat through a heatwave while the grid struggles puts the burden on working families rather than fixing the underlying infrastructure and energy supply issues.’
However, some stuck up for Mamdani, with one writing, ‘It’s literally a request to assist with power stability, not some communist assault on comfort.
‘NYC isn’t alone: many cities are requesting the same because of how insanely hot it is. Power companies are already putting out warnings or instituting rolling blackouts.’
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office told the Daily Mail, ‘The mayor is taking every action available to save lives during this extreme heat emergency, including following guidance from the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Energy, as well as recommendations from our utility partners that have been implemented under previous Mayors, including Adams, De Blasio, Bloomberg and Giuliani.
‘From Texas to South Carolina to right here in New York, similar measures have been taken to protect the energy grid and keep the AC flowing—this is not new.’
New York is undergoing extreme heat ahead of and during the holiday weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees for the first time since 2012.
Mamdani previously said this year’s Fourth of July could be the hottest since 2010, creating ‘extremely dangerous conditions.’
Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said in a press release that the heat could lead to record energy use, potentially resulting in power cuts to stabilize the grid.
The US Department of Energy issued two orders this week authorizing backup generation in the event of a serious grid emergency.
The mayor has said this Fourth of July holiday could be the hottest in years. Temperatures have already skyrocketed as New Yorkers stripped off in Central Park on Wednesday
Tourists in the Big Apple this week are in for a rude awakening as the city suffers through the historic heatwave. Passengers are seen here braving the scorching top deck of one of the city’s ferries on Wednesday
New Yorkers are conserving energy as temperatures are only expected to rise. A blistering sunset was pictured behind the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday
Con Edison, New York City’s power company, announced on Wednesday that its Emergency Response Center has been activated and crews are ready to respond to power issues caused by extreme weather.
Con Edison has asked New Yorkers to conserve energy, especially during peak hours from 2pm to 10pm, by limiting air conditioning and appliance use.
The power company has also asked New Yorkers to use only one unit and opt for fans to circulate air.
Those with electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids have been advised not to charge them until after 10pm.
Former mayors Eric Adams, Bill De Blasio, Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani had also instructed New Yorkers to set their air conditioning units to 78 degrees.
New York City has opened ‘cooling centers’ to provide respite from the heat for the most in need. Details can be found on the city’s website.
