Lynda Lopez: Mayor Mamdani is joining us now live. Mayor Mamdani, thanks for joining us.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me, Lynda.
Lopez: Okay, before we start, I have to ask you one question. We've been playing these same songs about the heat into our heat reports here on 1010 WINS for maybe about 40 years. I love "Summer in the City" and "Hot Hot Hot," but I feel like we need an update. Do you have any summer heat suggestions for us, for songs?
Mayor Mamdani: You know, I think there's a part of me that might want to go back to "Hot in Here" by Nelly, but I do think that this is a pretty good lead-in song right now.
Lopez: Okay, I sign off on that though. All right, let's get into the city's preparations for this dangerous heat. We have the focus on two things: of course, the regular New Yorkers who have to get around and try not to suffer from the heat, but also the folks who work outdoors to try to keep cool, and healthy and safe. Has that new executive order to protect outdoor workers that you put in place had time to be effective yet? Can workers count on additional protections today?
Mayor Mamdani: We're still in the writing phase of that executive order in terms of the implementation of the guidance. However, we're not going to wait for the timeline of that executive order for us to take action. And so, inspired by it, we have reached out to more than 70,000 of our business licensees. Whether they're through DCWP or DOHMH, we are talking about businesses across the five boroughs, to remind them to have heat protections for their workers, and also to remind of existing law. So, for example, for a delivery worker - they have the right to use the bathroom at any restaurant they're picking up from. And as you said, we know that there will be many New Yorkers who are just going about their days. There will be others who are excited to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, who will be excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Macy's July 4th fireworks. And then there will be others who are working through this period. So, for the first time in city history, we're setting up misting stations for outdoor workers. We are also setting up cooling vans where any New Yorker in need can get into this van and get electrolytes, water, food - whether it be kosher, halal, vegetarian. And we're also going to be dispatching city workers to just check in on any senior that someone is concerned about, to see if they're facing any effects from what will be a heat wave that we have not seen in more than a decade.
Lopez: Yeah, with that heatwave we know energy use will be high. Is Con Ed ready?
Mayor Mamdani: You know, we have been working with Con Ed, as well as with National Grid and other utilities, to prepare, because we know that with this level of heat - high 90s, triple digits, you know, with humidity, it will feel like it's up to 112 degrees - that there may be reliability concerns that come from the demand that we typically see in response. So, we've been working with them in advance. They have put everything they can together to be ready for the turnaround. However, we're making sure that we're also letting business owners know to set their thermostats at 78 degrees to help the grid deal with what will be probably one of the highest levels of demand we've seen in more than a decade.
Lopez: That's good advice for folks with their air conditioners at home, too. We have one last question for you: we know there could be crowds of Taylor Swift fans trying to squeeze in around Madison Square Garden over the next couple of days, after those reports that wedding events are happening there. Is there a plan in place, especially since [there] could be huge crowds in this heat?
Mayor Mamdani: You know, we will be prepared for crowds, whether they're going to be outside of Madison Square Garden, or they're going to be gathering outside any of the viewing sites for the Fourth of July fireworks. When it comes to the event at MSG, what I can say is that there's been an application filed for a large event. We are fully prepared. There isn't anything to share beyond that. But no matter what brings you outside, we wanna ask New Yorkers: stay hydrated, make sure you put on sunscreen, make sure you take as many breaks as possible indoors and with air conditioning, because this heat is no joke.
Lopez: It's no joke. Mayor Mamdani updating us on the city's preparations for this heat. Thanks so much for joining us.
Mayor Mamdani Thank you so much, Lynda.
