Delivery Workers Brave Blizzard to Keep NYC Fed

Food delivery continues amid city's winter storm travel ban

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Despite a travel ban imposed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a major blizzard, the city's 80,000 food delivery workers were among the few allowed on the streets. While some delivery companies temporarily suspended service, many deliveristas continued to brave the treacherous conditions to bring food to residents, though some workers like José Lino were forced to stop due to equipment issues. The storm reignited debates over the safety and working conditions of delivery workers.

Why it matters

The ability of delivery workers to continue operating during extreme weather events highlights their essential role in providing food access, even as their working conditions and compensation remain contentious issues. The storm also tested the city's emergency powers and the flexibility of its policies around transportation.

The details

On Monday, Mayor Mamdani banned nearly all traffic from New York City streets, with exceptions for emergency vehicles and electric delivery bikes. Many delivery workers, known as 'deliveristas', continued to work despite the treacherous conditions, though some, like José Lino, were forced to stop when their e-bike batteries died. Delivery companies like DoorDash and Grubhub temporarily suspended service, but some restaurants remained open for self-delivery.

  • On Sunday night, the blizzard was already hitting New York City hard.
  • By Monday afternoon, nearly 20 inches of snow had been recorded in Central Park.
  • On Monday at 2 p.m., Grubhub had resumed deliveries in Manhattan but kept its business paused in the other four boroughs.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who declared a state of emergency and banned nearly all traffic from the streets, with exceptions for emergency vehicles and electric delivery bikes.

José Lino

A 39-year-old immigrant from Guatemala who was delivering food when his e-bike's battery died, forcing him to pedal home through the heavy snow.

Ligia M. Guallpa

The executive director of Deliveristas Unidos, which represents the city's delivery workers.

Hassan Alborati

The manager of Gardenia Deli in Chelsea who said no delivery workers showed up for deliveries on Monday.

Charlie Baker

A spokesman for Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit advocacy group, who said the group successfully ordered food from Grubhub after the company said it had stopped service.

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What they’re saying

“It was very hard, and I was very far from home. The app companies, they don't care. They'll send you four or five miles away from your house, even when the weather is bad. It's not worth the risk.”

— José Lino (The New York Times)

“We are deeply concerned because during extreme weather conditions like a snowstorm, delivery work becomes more dangerous.”

— Ligia M. Guallpa, Executive Director, Deliveristas Unidos (The New York Times)

“Make an enormous pot of soup and bring it to your neighbors upstairs.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (The New York Times)

“It sounds like they may not be being completely honest.”

— Charlie Baker, Spokesman, Transportation Alternatives (The New York Times)

What’s next

The mayor's office is expected to review the city's policies around delivery workers and transportation during extreme weather events to ensure the safety of both workers and residents.

The takeaway

The resilience of New York City's delivery workers during the blizzard highlights their essential role in providing food access, even as their working conditions and compensation remain contentious issues that require further attention from policymakers and the public.