NYC mayor slammed for opening schools during blizzard
Published:Friday | February 14, 2014 | 12:00 AM
New York City's mayor was blasted yesterday by the teachers' union and TV weatherman Al Roker for keeping schools open on a day that another winter storm brought nearly 10 inches of snow.
Roker, who was in Russia for the Winter Olympics, but has a daughter in New York's public schools, said on Twitter that the snow policy was "ridiculous".
"It's going to take some kid or kids getting hurt before this goofball policy gets changed," he said.
Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said, "Having students, parents and staff travelling in these conditions was unwarranted."
the right decision
But Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was the right decision, although almost every other school district in the region was closed.
And comparing his job to Roker's he said, "It's a different thing to run a city than to give the weather on TV. So I am comfortable with our decision-making."
The mayor said many families depend on the schools to supply a safe place and nutrition for their children, and many parents have to work despite the weather.
By noon, the storm had brought 91/2 inches to Central Park and as much as 14 inches was reported on Long Island, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Picca. He said even more snow is forecast to hit the city Thursday night into Friday morning, after the precipitation switched to rain or ice for a while.
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By noon, the storm had brought 91/2 inches to Central Park and as much as 14 inches was reported on Long Island, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Picca. He said even more snow is forecast to hit the city Thursday night into Friday morning, after the precipitation switched to rain or ice for a while.
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By noon, the storm had brought 91/2 inches to Central Park and as much as 14 inches was reported on Long Island, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Picca. He said even more snow is forecast to hit the city Thursday night into Friday morning, after the precipitation switched to rain or ice for a while.