A day-by-day look at a mayor’s most consequential week yet
Five Days That Defined a Mayor
The week of February 23 to 27, 2026 was unlike any other in Zohran Mamdani’s brief tenure as New York City’s mayor. It compressed more political controversy, emergency management challenges, and symbolic action into five days than most mayors see in a month. A blow-by-blow account reveals a young administration still finding its footing while operating at the highest possible intensity.
Monday: The Blizzard and the School Decision
Mayor Mamdani began the week managing the aftermath of a historic blizzard that dropped nearly two feet of snow on New York City over Sunday night and Monday morning. He had imposed a travel ban Sunday evening that was lifted at noon Monday. By Monday afternoon, he announced that New York City public schools would reopen for in-person learning on Tuesday. The decision was criticized immediately by parents and officials, particularly on Staten Island, where streets remained hazardous and school bus service was compromised.
Tuesday: The Snowball Fallout
The snow day that some New Yorkers had hoped for became the backdrop for the Washington Square Park snowball incident, in which a massive crowd gathering organized by a viral social media post turned confrontational when police arrived. Officers were struck by snowballs, the NYPD said they sustained injuries, and a 27-year-old man was arrested. Mamdani addressed the incident at a Tuesday press conference, saying officers deserve respect but describing the event as a snowball fight that got out of hand. Police Commissioner Tisch pushed back hard. The Police Benevolent Association called the mayor’s response a failure of leadership. The same day, Mamdani appointed Sideya Sherman as Chair of the City Planning Commission. A video with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez encouraging enrollment in 3-K and Pre-K was also released.
Wednesday: Child Care and Accountability
Wednesday’s press conference focused on 3-K enrollment, with the February 27 deadline approaching. Mamdani was also asked again about the snowball incident. Later that day, he announced the appointment of Erin Dalton as Commissioner of the Department of Social Services and held a Black History Month reception at the American Museum of Natural History.
Thursday: The Oval Office
Without announcing it publicly in advance, Mamdani traveled to Washington and met with President Trump. He presented the Sunnyside Yards housing proposal and advocated for the release of Columbia community members detained by ICE. That evening, the first of his rental ripoff hearings was held in Brooklyn, giving tenants a public forum to report exploitation by landlords.
Friday: Weeksville, Deadlines, and Answers
On Friday, the Pre-K and 3-K enrollment deadline closed at 11:59 p.m. Mamdani announced the completion of the Weeksville Heritage Center restoration in Crown Heights. And at a press conference, he answered questions about the Trump visit, defended his snowball fight response, and confirmed that a Columbia student had been released. The Mayor’s Office publishes daily press releases and announcements that provide a running account of administration activity. The Gotham Gazette provides independent coverage and analysis of New York City government. It was, by any measure, a remarkable week.
