Facing mounting questions about its response to a prolonged stretch of dangerous winter weather, the Mamdani administration last month took control over reporting of cold-related deaths from the NYPD.
The unusual shift in how the city shares information on fatalities resulted in delays that hindered the public’s understanding of how at least 26 people died during the brutal cold — and what more could have been done to prevent them from perishing.
On Thursday, top spokespeople for Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYPD attributed the change to a “miscommunication.”
“It is now clear that there was a miscommunication between NYPD and City Hall,” Joe Calvello, the mayor’s press secretary, wrote in a statement.
Delaney Kempner, the police department’s deputy commissioner for public information, said in a nearly identical statement, “It is now clear there was a miscommunication between City Hall and the NYPD. Moving forward, information regarding deaths will be released by the most relevant agency.”
Both declined to comment further.
The apparent misunderstanding between City Hall and police headquarters comes amid an uneasy alliance between Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The democratic socialist mayor and politically moderate billionaire scion have significant policy differences but have pledged to work together.
City Hall appears to have taken over the release of information on the cold-related deaths around the end of January, after Mamdani first announced that people had been found dead outside. On Feb. 3, an NYPD spokesperson referred questions about the growing death toll to Mamdani’s office. The mayor’s spokespeople gave Gothamist new information about victims, but some details that the NYPD normally provides were missing, such as each person's age and gender, along with whether 911 was called.
The following day, an NYPD spokesperson responded to an inquiry about deaths related to the cold: “City Hall has requested that all questions on this topic be referred to them.”
When pressed by Gothamist on the reason for the change, several NYPD spokespeople at the time expressed confusion and frustration at City Hall’s decision, saying their hands were tied.
More questions emerged this week. A list of 14 names City Hall provided to Gothamist on Tuesday lacked locations for the deaths, a key piece of information that the NYPD almost always includes in standard police reports. Many of the dates and times were inconsistent with ones previously provided by the NYPD or City Hall itself. Four other deaths were included on the list, but without names attached.
A mayoral spokesperson later said those four names were withheld because officials were still trying to first notify their families. The NYPD also withholds names for that reason, but typically says so in writing.
Mayor Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner have said they have their differences but can still work together.
City Hall officials on Wednesday confirmed to Gothamist that seven additional people were found dead from hypothermia at private residences. None of their names or addresses, or the specific circumstances of their deaths, have been released.
The overall death toll from hypothermia-related causes now stands at at least 22, according to preliminary information shared by the administration. Officials have said a few of the people may have died of overdoses, but final determinations have not been released for the 26 known cases as city medical examiners continue to investigate the deaths.
The slow drip of information on the cold-weather victims comes as Mamdani faces increasing scrutiny over whether his administration did enough to protect vulnerable New Yorkers. At a City Council oversight hearing this week, Council Speaker Julie Menin argued there were “gaps” in the city’s outreach and services and said the deaths were “not inevitable."
People who previously worked in City Hall and NYPD headquarters said this isn’t the first time the mayor’s office has tried to control information about a high-stakes story.
“It’s called the mayor’s CYA protocol,” said George Grasso, a former first deputy NYPD commissioner, referring to “Cover Your A--.”
Kayla Mamelak Altus, a press secretary under former Mayor Eric Adams, said she often sought to gather information from city agencies on controversial issues, but noted efforts to micromanage inquiries often backfire.
“Trying to wait until you get the full picture, while it makes sense, it’s a fool’s errand,” said Mamelak Altus, who has been critical of Mamdani. Reporters, she added, will find a way to get the information they’re after.
Mamdani on Thursday denied there had been any change in the release of public information about the deaths.
“To my understanding, we've continued the policy as it has been,” the mayor said at an unrelated press conference. “We've sought to be transparent with New Yorkers about this information.”
