New York City Hall was kept as cold as 54 degrees during this week’s heat wave, despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani urging residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees to reduce strain on the power grid.

According to an investigation by the New York Post, reporters measured temperatures at 20 locations inside City Hall and other municipal buildings using an infrared thermometer.

All but five locations were below the 78-degree level Mamdani had urged New Yorkers to follow.

Around noon, areas including the Rotunda, the Governor’s Room, the City Council chambers and hallways near the mayor’s office reportedly measured around 77 degrees, while the mayor’s first-floor press office registered 78 degrees.

As the day progressed, temperatures reportedly dropped further.

Today’s Cover: CON AIR. Mamdani says set your thermostat to 78 degrees during heat wave, but City Hall is chillin’ https://t.co/B7fbQTJdW7 pic.twitter.com/YNlypTaBaj

— New York Post (@nypost) July 3, 2026

Outside the mayor’s office and inside the Governor’s Room, temperatures fell to 74 degrees, while the Rotunda measured 64 degrees.

One area near the mayor’s press office registered 62 degrees, and air coming directly from an air conditioning vent in the press radio room measured 54 degrees.

The findings came one day after Mamdani urged New Yorkers to raise their thermostats.

“Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment,” he wrote on X.

New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool.

Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.

Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings,…

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 1, 2026

The recommendation followed concerns over heavy electricity demand during triple-digit temperatures.

Central Park reached 100 degrees Thursday for the first time in more than a decade, while roughly 5,000 Con Edison customers in the Bronx temporarily lost power.

After being asked about the temperature readings, City Hall spokesman Jeremy Edwards said Gracie Mansion had been set to 78 degrees the previous afternoon.

He also confirmed that City Hall’s thermostats had also been adjusted to the recommended level later on Thursday.

While New Yorkers were urged to dial back their air conditioning, City Hall appeared to have no trouble staying cool.

Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally from the UK, he moved to the U.S. to cover Congress for Breitbart News and has since gone on to editorial roles at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media. He has also written for The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.

You can email Ben Kew here, and read more of Ben Kew's articles here.

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