NYC Will Pay Residents to Shovel — But Only With Proper ID

Mayor offers residents money to help dig out neighborhoods—but strict identification requirements ignite controversy over ID standards

Published February 23, 2026

Mayor Zhoran Mamdani’s snow cleanup program requires strict identification to get paid—drawing scrutiny as he and other Democrats oppose voter ID requirements at the ballot box.

This weekend, New York was hammered with snow as a massive storm blew through. Some places reported snowfall north of 25 inches, including a travel ban set by the mayor and the shutdown of most public transit systems.

In an effort to help alleviate the pressure of the snow fall, NYC is offering to pay residents to help move some of the snow in their neighborhoods. To be paid, applicants must present proper identification.

The New York City Sanitation Department, in charge of removing the snow, has listed multiple stipulations to verify identity on their website. An applicant must provide two small photos sized 1 to 1.5 square inches, two original forms of ID (plus copies) and their social security card. (RELATED: Virginia Redistricting Showdown Moves From Courtroom to Ballot Box)

JUST IN🚨: Zohran Mamdani on why you need ID (plus SS card & photos) to get paid $19/hr shoveling NYC snow:

“Federal law requires employers to get authorization and documentation to pay people. We can't just cut checks to individuals.”

But no ID to vote? Make it make sense. pic.twitter.com/Tov7wEm3X4
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) February 22, 2026

“As with any employer, the City of New York has a legal obligation under federal law to verify work authorization and maintain proper documentation before issuing payment. We are not legally permitted to hand out checks without completing that process,” A Mamdani spokesperson told The New York Post.

The identification requirements to vote are seen as “racist” and “discriminatory” by the left. The city also requires a social security card, which also affects illegal immigrants who aren’t enrolled. However, in order to shovel and get paid, Mamdani seems to be walking in lockstep with federal law, stating that all these stipulations must be abided by.

“Federal law requires employers to get authorization and documentation to pay people. We can’t just cut checks to individuals,” said Mamdani in his press conference. (RELATED: Raw Sewage Floods Potomac After Massive Pipe Failure)

Democrats have recently tried to block the SAVE Act, currently going through the senate, that would require a voter’s proper ID to vote in elections. Democrats have been calling the SAVE Act, “Jim Crow 2.0,” to try and distort the true meaning behind the bill. Once again, in order to shovel snow and get paid, 5 forms of identification are required. However, voting needs to require no proof of ID or it becomes “racist.”