The City Council has passed legislation that members say will prevent mistakes like those made during the day-after-Christmas blizzard that shut down large swathes of the city and chipped away at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's approval ratings.
Bloomberg now says he'll support the package of bills that was passed Wednesday. His administration had spoken against earlier versions of the legislation, saying that it would curtail the flexibility needed by officials in emergency situations.
Spokesman Jason Post said changes to the bills allayed the mayor's concerns.
The legislation would require city officials to establish rules determining when they activate emergency operations and when they ask for help.
The city would also need to notify the public of disruptions to public services.
Residents criticized Bloomberg and his sanitation department for their handling of the snow cleanup. The mayor admitted the city's performance was "unacceptable."
The blizzard was followed by a series of snowstorms. The city had a record 36 inches of snow in January.
