Mamdani Faces Criticism Over City Hall AC Settings Amid Heat Wave

Some areas reportedly became significantly colder as the afternoon progressed

The controversy comes after Mamdani urged New Yorkers on Wednesday to set their thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to help reduce strain on the electrical grid as temperatures climbed toward triple digits.

“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,” Mamdani wrote on X.

“Maybe the mayor shouldn’t tell New Yorkers to sacrifice their comfort if he isn’t willing to do the same,” City Council Minority Leader David Carr, R-Staten Island, told the newspaper.