Honestly, if you haven’t been to the city in the last month, you might not even recognize the vibe. It’s January 2026, and New York is currently smack in the middle of a massive identity shift. We’ve got a brand-new mayor, a subway fare that finally hit the dreaded three-dollar mark, and a literal ghost of the past finally being laid to rest at the turnstiles.
It’s cold. Really cold. Friday morning kicked off with wind chills that felt like 5 degrees, and the city is currently bracing for two separate snow systems hitting this weekend. But the weather is basically the only predictable thing happening.
The Mamdani Era and the $3 Subway Ride
What is going on in New York right now starts at City Hall. Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, is officially in the driver's seat, and he’s already shaking things up. If you’ve seen him on the news lately, he’s been spending a lot of time on the picket lines. Right now, thousands of nurses from Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and New York-Presbyterian are on strike. It’s one of the biggest healthcare walkouts we’ve ever seen here. Mamdani isn't just "monitoring" it; he’s out there with them, which is a wild departure from how the previous administration handled labor disputes.
Then there’s the MTA.
On January 4, the base fare for subways and buses officially ticked up to $3.00.
Yeah, it’s only a dime increase from $2.90, but psychologically? It feels like a lot. Especially for the folks who remember when it was $2.50 just a few years back. The MTA says they need the cash to keep the trains running and to fund huge projects like the Second Avenue Subway extension, which Governor Hochul just gave a massive nudge in her 2026 State of the State address.
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The MetroCard is officially a fossil
If you have a yellow MetroCard in your wallet, it’s basically a souvenir now. As of December 31, the city stopped selling them. We are officially an OMNY city. You tap your phone, you tap your credit card, or you use an OMNY card. It’s efficient, sure, but there’s something kinda sad about seeing those iconic yellow slivers vanish from the booths.
The Congestion Pricing Drama Won’t Die
You can’t talk about Manhattan right now without mentioning the $9 toll. Congestion pricing just hit its one-year anniversary on January 5, and the data is actually pretty shocking.
The MTA is reporting that 27 million fewer vehicles entered the lower half of Manhattan over the last year. That’s about 73,000 fewer cars every single day. If you’ve noticed that buses are moving a tiny bit faster or that you can actually hear yourself think on 14th Street, that’s why. Air pollution in the zone is down about 22%, too.
But don't think the fight is over.
There is a huge court date looming on January 28. A federal judge is currently weighing whether the program stays or goes, especially with the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation—led by Sean Duffy—constantly trying to pull the plug. It’s a massive tug-of-war between Albany and D.C., and honestly, nobody knows who’s going to win.
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What’s Actually Fun to Do This Week?
Despite the political chaos and the fare hikes, it’s still New York. If you’re looking to get out of the house (and can handle the 20-degree wind), there’s actually a lot of cool stuff happening that doesn’t cost a fortune.
- NYC Hotel Week: It started on January 12. If you’ve ever wanted to stay at a fancy place in Midtown without selling a kidney, now is the time.
- MoMA Friday Nights: These are still a thing. If you’re a New York resident, you can get into the Museum of Modern Art for free on Friday evenings (5:30 to 8:30 PM). They have a huge Ruth Asawa retrospective right now that’s worth the trip alone.
- Winter Jazzfest: It just wrapped up, but the energy is still lingering in the clubs in the Village and Brooklyn.
- Restaurant Week: This kicks off on January 20. Basically, 600 restaurants across the five boroughs offer prix-fixe menus for $30, $45, or $60. It’s the best time to hit that spot you’ve been stalking on Instagram.
On the sports side, Fordham basketball is having a moment at the Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx. If you’re tired of the MSG prices, checking out a Rams game is a solid alternative.
A City in Transition
There’s also some heavier stuff going on. Earlier this week, there was a major outcry after ICE arrested a City Council employee. Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Mamdani both called it an "assault on democracy," and it’s created a lot of tension between the city and federal authorities.
At the same time, the City Council itself just got a makeover. Julie Menin is the new Speaker, and she’s already cleaned house, stripping some members of their committee roles and appointing a leadership team that is very pro-pedestrian and pro-bike. Expect to see a lot more protected bike lanes coming to your neighborhood soon.
And we can't ignore the corruption headlines. Tony Herbert, a former official from the Adams administration, was just arrested on federal public corruption charges. It’s a reminder that while the faces at the top change, some of the old problems are still hanging around.
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What You Should Actually Do Next
If you’re living through what is going on in New York right now, or just visiting, here is how to navigate the next few days without losing your mind.
Watch the Saturday forecast. We are looking at a "manageable" 1 to 3 inches of snow, but Sunday is the real wildcard. A coastal storm is hovering offshore; if it wobbles closer, the Sunday commute is going to be a disaster.
Update your transit apps. Since the fare hike and the MetroCard phase-out, the MTA has updated a lot of their digital interfaces. Make sure your OMNY account is linked to a card that isn't expired so you don't get stuck at the turnstile behind a line of angry commuters.
Book your Restaurant Week tables now. Reservations for the January 20 start date are already filling up, especially for the high-end spots in Manhattan and the trendy ones in Williamsburg.
New York in 2026 feels faster, more expensive, and politically louder than it has in years. It’s a lot to take in, but that’s basically the price of admission for living here. Stay warm, keep your phone charged for the OMNY readers, and maybe buy a shovel before Saturday night.