Mamdani Requires ID To Shovel Snow While Opposing Voter ID

New York City is staring down its first blizzard in nearly a decade and Mayor Zohran Mamdani has a solution: grab a shovel, show your paperwork, and report to work.

At a Saturday press conference ahead of the looming nor’easter, Mamdani urged residents to sign up as emergency snow shovelers to help compensate for staffing shortages exposed during the city’s last major storm. The temporary workers will be paid, but there’s a requirement: bring proper identification and documentation.

“For those who want to do more to help your neighbors and earn some extra cash, you too can become an Emergency Snow Shoveler,” Mamdani said. “Just show up to your local Sanitation Garage between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow with your paperwork.”

That “paperwork” requirement quickly ignited criticism.

Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, whose New York chapter has forcefully opposed voter ID laws. The group has described election integrity legislation as a rollback of civil rights protections. Yet under Mamdani’s emergency labor push, residents must present identification to shovel snow for the city.

The contrast hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Supporters argue that hiring temporary municipal workers requires documentation for payroll and liability reasons. Critics counter that the optics are hard to ignore particularly at a moment when voter ID remains a heated national debate.

According to Gallup polling, roughly 80% of Americans support requiring photo identification to vote, including majorities across party lines. Still, progressive lawmakers in cities like New York have resisted such requirements.

The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings from 6 a.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday, forecasting 15 to 24 inches of snow in New York City, with wind gusts exceeding 45 mph. Near-zero visibility, heavy snowfall, and possible coastal flooding are expected across the region.

Blizzard conditions require:

• Sustained winds or gusts above 35 mph

• Falling or blowing snow

• Visibility reduced to a quarter mile or less for at least three hours

If projections hold, this storm could rank among the city’s most severe winter events in recent years.

The system is expected to impact much of the I-95 corridor, stretching from New York through New England, raising concerns about power outages and travel disruptions.

The city’s Emergency Snow Shoveler program has long relied on last-minute recruitment. Workers typically report to sanitation garages during storms and are dispatched to clear bus stops, crosswalks, and pedestrian-heavy corridors.

Critics say the reliance on day-of labor highlights chronic under-preparation. Rather than bolstering permanent staffing or planning ahead, City Hall again turned to emergency mobilization.

Mamdani framed the recruitment as neighborly solidarity, encouraging residents to pitch in for vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly.

But city officials have not clarified why staffing shortages were not addressed following the last major storm, nor why recruitment is happening on the eve of severe weather.

Mamdani has built his political brand around expanded government involvement in housing, labor, and public services. Yet snow removal one of the most basic municipal responsibilities is again testing the city’s operational capacity.

As New Yorkers brace for whiteout conditions and potentially hazardous streets, they’re being told to stay indoors unless, of course, they’re willing to present documentation and help dig the city out.

For now, the shovels are ready. The paperwork is required. And City Hall is once again hoping the storm doesn’t outpace its planning.

For more updates on city governance and national political debates, share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for continued coverage.