NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Department of Education announced that New York City Schools will be open Thursday. With the storm expecting to hit overnight, crews are already preparing roads in Manhattan.Mayor de Blasio also declared a hazardous travel advisory for Thursday.
He will keep schools open like he did during the last big snow storm.
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't," said Carmen Farina, the New York City Schools Chancellor.
Meanwhile, Lee Goldberg at WABC just announced he is upping snow totals to 10 inches for the city.
Why would Farina announce schools are opened tomorrow so early tonight before the storm hits, even as both Nick Gregory of FOX and Lee Goldberg of WABC are talking about raising their snow totals for tomorrow?
Makes no sense to me.
We'll see what stuff looks like in the morning, but they may come back to regret calling tomorrow an open school day this early.
Updated: Nick Gregory raised his snow totals as well:
This could turn out very badly for Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Farina.
With the storm not hitting until after midnight and with the heaviest snows expected right before and perhaps during the morning rush hour, they should have waited until 4 AM to make the call on whether schools were opened or not.
I'm heading off to bed now, and maybe when I wake up in the morning, Farina will be right and all will be swell for the morning commute.
But I've been watching the forecasts and models pretty closely, and unless Farina and de Blasio know something I don't know, there's a lot of uncertainty about the storm that has the locals mets upping their totals just as the storm is hitting that makes me think this early an open school call is foolish.
I really don't understand and was quite surprised when they called the schools open at 10:30 in the evening. It's snowing pretty steadily and it's 3 30 am. I have a 7 year old second grader and my concern is the travel and the cold. If I'm freezing he must be as well. Most of my teacher friends commute by car from Brooklyn or Staten Island. It just makes no sense. DeBlasio says he is doing what's in the best interest of the students and staff? My son was crying last week the day of the snow storm cause it felt like 15 below and he didn't want to go outside. We take the city bus to school so sometimes we wait 15- 20 minutes for a bus. I personally think it's crazy.
ReplyDeleteHe's a complete moron and should be impeached.
DeleteMeliza,
DeleteI agree completely - making the decision the night before made no sense. And while this morning there wasn't much snow on the ground yet, the forecast and radar had a lot coming our way. But they were intent on sticking with the decision once it was made. And so they did. I guarantee you they will think twice the next time there is a storm, however. They were under attack all day and made things even worse with some of their defensive statements:
http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-failed-test-by-de-blasio-and-farina.html
The Upper East SIDERS and the Post invested their wrath well.
ReplyDeleteThey've got de Blasio so scared that after the sole token snow day we'll never see a snow day again under this mayor. At this point I just shut off the radio or TV with all notices of evry other surrounding town shutting down.
I'm heading off to work 1 1/2 hours earlier.
He's a complete moron and should be impeached.
DeleteThe Mayor is STUPID.....He says Stay off Streets but schools are open. So I guess we should FLY.....to school....
ReplyDeleteMakes no sense, and yet, that was what he said. Makes me wonder about his judgment and sanity.
DeleteBy keeping the schools open on this huge snow day, students ware put in dengerous risk. I could see already few inches of snow on top of already highly iced and sleepery streets, street crossing corners. Visivility is much shorter then normal. Crossing will be harder and risky. Many will not even know which part of the street is clean and which pare has hard sleepery ice. They are taking risk to go to school.
ReplyDeleteHope the people, who made the decision, have kids and those kids walk to schools through NYC streets in Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx and they realize that this decision put so many children in denger.
Very, very bad - even this afternoon, when all that ice and snow started to melt and the streets were like rivers of ice floes.
DeleteAgain the Mayor and the Chancellor show the people of N.Y. they don't watch the news because if they did the schools would be closed like the rest of the schools. I hope for there sake no teachers or students are killed in accidents trying to get home today, because they would be responsble. What is wrong with are city. It just shows us it's not about the people it's about the money,so what else is new. Shame on you Mayor De Blasio
ReplyDeletePregnant woman was killed by a snow plow in Bay Ridge, but that accident was not related to the schools being opened. Also, a woman fell in front of a train on a slippery platform, but she was texting and seemed to have been less than mindful on the platform. Luckily she only had an injured leg.
DeleteChancellor Fariña doesn't have to drop her kids to school. She might be at home and doing the stupid decision. Stop THIS AGAIN....
ReplyDeleteShe said at least three ridiculous statements today. Her "It's a Beautiful Day" comment has become an Internet meme and she is a laughing stock around the city tonight - and maybe the entire region. Once the late night comedians get the meme, she will be mocked nationally.
DeleteThey declare treacherous conditions and a state of emergency and open the public schools!!!! They really do put "children first" , first in the line of danger!!! These are the people that make decisions about how to best educate our kids. They have no common sense!! I hope this one does them in. Totally inept and irresponsible. Wake up citizens of NYC!!
ReplyDeletePolitical needs of the politicians - that's their concern. They thought it would be better to open schools rather than deal with the criticism for closing them. Truth is, they took a harder hit for keeping them opened.
Deletethey are 2assholes
ReplyDeleteI am not a babysitter..I am a teacher!!! The mayor and chancellor say parents need a place to drop off kids and give them a warm meal:...that's what was said today, Feb 13 after mayor and governor declare nyc a state of emergency...Are they realizing the dangerous conditions out there?!! Let the parents hire a babysitter if necessary!!!! Why risk thousands of students and teachers safety because of this...Let parents take responsibility for their child and not always throw it into the DOE!!!!
ReplyDeleteNo, you're not. You're a babysitter. As am I. And we both work for the largest daycare in the world.
DeleteThat's how they see us.
Are you kidding... now you are saying to stay off the roads so sanition can do their job!!!! And take mass transit...that's not always possible...buses are not always running....so why are the school open!!!!!!! Even the Uft president says they should be closed!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSanitation, that is....
DeleteReally!!!! Keeping it open!!! Well, sanitation doesn't really clean much around the schools...adults and children can't even get onto the sidewalk from crossing the streets...the city doesn't clear curbs in order to cross, especially when the kids get off school buses!!!
DeleteDidn't see much plowed for quite a while where I was. Did see an ambulette stuck on a side street however.
DeleteThe mayor is a complete idiot, having the schools open. Given the fact that school buses could potentially get into accidents with all those children inside. I don't know if he is making the decisions or is being influenced by others. No matter what he looks like an idiot and I hope that nothing happens throughout the course of the day on account of his inconsideration for the well being o the students. It is just something people in general should have, which is common sense, and he and the chancellor for school are lacking at this point.
ReplyDeleteThey were on the defensive all day for the decision and the statements they made in their defense just made things worse.
DeleteThis Mayor completely lost his mind..so dangerous outside. .and you want kids to troop it to school. Last time I checked we are not a third world country.
ReplyDeleteComplete idiotic move!
De Blasio is a laughing stock on the Internet these evening - here, enjoy these memes:
Deletehttp://pix11.com/2014/02/13/nyc-schools-staying-open-during-snow-storm-spawns-hilarious-social-media-reaction/#axzz2tEj6PKrU