New York is facing continuous heatwaves. New York Mayor Bloomberg has urged citizens to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (about 26 degrees Celsius), while keeping the temperature in city hall rooms down to 54 degrees Fahrenheit (about 12 degrees Celsius).
According to the New York Post, on July 1st local time, Mamdani announced a proposal to regulate air-conditioning temperatures. Citizens were advised to set their air conditioners at 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to prevent dangerous power outages by the electric company. He also stated that municipal buildings would ‘set an example’ and strictly adhere to the 78-degree Fahrenheit standard.
However, the results obtained by the thermometer were completely contrary to his statements. On July 2nd, local time, a reporter from that newspaper used an infrared thermometer to measure temperatures at 20 locations within the New York City Hall and other municipal office buildings. Only at five of these locations did the temperature reach 78 degrees Fahrenheit; all the others were below this value.
On July 2nd, local time, New York was experiencing scorching heat outside, but some areas of the city hall had temperatures of only 61 degrees Fahrenheit (about 16 degrees Celsius). New York Post
On that day, the temperature in New York's Central Park reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in over a decade. However, by 4:30 p.m., the temperature inside the mayor's office dropped significantly. One of the offices measured only 54 degrees Fahrenheit, so cold that people needed to wear sweaters. Outside Mammadani’s office, the temperature was measured at 74 degrees Fahrenheit (about 23 degrees Celsius).
While many municipal workers sit in cool offices, security guards and police officers work in temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit (about 27 degrees Celsius), and they don’t even have fans.
Before the reveal of the temperature details at the city hall, Mamdani had already received online ridicule for her proposal to adjust air conditioning temperatures.
On the 2nd day, David Carl, the leader of the Republican faction in the New York City Council, also mocked, 'If even the mayor can’t do it himself, then he shouldn’t ask New York citizens to sacrifice comfort.'
