Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Hey New York. Do you ever look up as you walk around through this city, only to find the sun blocked by scaffolding? Do you then turn a corner only to see even more of it? For years, New Yorkers have put up with an excess of scaffolding sheds - and they often stay up far, far longer than they’re supposed to. This doesn’t just look ugly, but it can be a real safety hazard itself, and it affects the quality of life for every New Yorker.
So we’re excited to announce: we’re taking big steps to cut back on the scaffolding you’ll see every day in New York, with new laws, programs, and enforcement to make it happen. But to help explain these, we wanted to bring in an expert: Documentary Filmmaker John Wilson, creator of HBO’s “How to With John Wilson.”
Memorably, the second episode of the series saw Wilson explore why there was so much scaffolding in New York, and wonder if anyone would ever do anything to fix it. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re taking big steps to do it.
Produced by the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
Interview with Mayor Mamdani filmed & conducted by John Wilson
Hey New York. Do you ever look up as you walk around through this city, only to find the sun blocked by scaffolding? Do you then turn a corner only to see even more of it? For years, New Yorkers have put up with an excess of scaffolding sheds - and they often stay up far, far longer than they’re supposed to. This doesn’t just look ugly, but it can be a real safety hazard itself, and it affects the quality of life for every New Yorker.
So we’re excited to announce: we’re taking big steps to cut back on the scaffolding you’ll see every day in New York, with new laws, programs, and enforcement to make it happen. But to help explain these, we wanted to bring in an expert: Documentary Filmmaker John Wilson, creator of HBO’s “How to With John Wilson.”
Memorably, the second episode of the series saw Wilson explore why there was so much scaffolding in New York, and wonder if anyone would ever do anything to fix it. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re taking big steps to do it.
Produced by the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
Interview with Mayor Mamdani filmed & conducted by John Wilson
