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NEW YORK — A monster winter storm has buried the Big Apple under a thick blanket of white, bringing the "city that never sleeps" to a grinding halt. As New York City grapples with one of the most significant snowfall events in a decade, city officials have taken an unconventional step to clear the path forward: offering high-paying temporary jobs to any citizen willing to pick up a shovel.
A Decade-High Snowfall According to the National Weather Service, Central Park recorded approximately 50 centimeters (nearly 20 inches) of snow by Monday. This marks the highest snowfall from a single storm system in the last ten years. In some surrounding areas, the accumulation was expected to reach as high as 61 centimeters (24 inches), prompting authorities to issue travel bans and cancel thousands of flights.
The aftermath has been stark. Streets usually teeming with yellow taxis and commuters stood eerily silent in neighborhoods like Stony Brook, where residents navigated empty, snow-clogged boulevards. As of Tuesday, more than 8,000 flights across the Northeast have been cancelled or delayed, and regional rail services remain heavily disrupted.
Desperate Times, Premium Wages In response to the emergency, Mayor Zoran Mamdani and the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) have launched a massive recruitment drive for "Emergency Snow Laborers." To incentivize participation, the city has announced a significant pay hike that has caught the attention of many looking for extra income.
Initially, the base pay for these temporary workers was set at $19.14 per hour, with overtime rates reaching $28.71. However, as the severity of the storm intensified, Mayor Mamdani announced a "combat pay" adjustment. The base wage has been bumped to $30 per hour, with overtime pay (for those working more than 40 hours a week) soaring to $45 per hour (approximately 65,000 KRW).
"We need every helping hand we can get," Mayor Mamdani said during a press briefing. "For those who want to help their neighbors and earn significant extra income, the city is ready to put you to work immediately. Simply show up at your local sanitation garage between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, and you can start right away."
The Front Lines of the Deep Freeze The mission for these "Snow Volunteers" is critical for urban functionality. They are tasked with clearing snow from public infrastructure that heavy plows cannot reach, including sidewalks, bus stops, crosswalks, and fire hydrants. Ensuring access to these points is vital for emergency services and the safety of pedestrians.
The response has been overwhelming. According to DSNY, over 2,500 residents across the five boroughs have already registered as emergency laborers. On Monday alone, approximately 800 workers were deployed for the day shift, following a night crew of 500 who braved sub-zero temperatures to keep the city's arteries open.
A Community Under Pressure While the high wages are a temporary boon for students, freelancers, and the unemployed, the underlying situation remains dire. With travel bans in effect and businesses shuttered, the economic impact of the storm is expected to be measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
For now, the sound of metal shovels scraping against pavement has become the unofficial anthem of New York. As the city digs itself out from this historic freeze, the "army of shovelers" stands as a testament to New York's resilience—and the high price the city is willing to pay to get back on its feet.
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