As temperatures rise and snow begins to melt across New York City, many neighborhoods are still digging out from a punishing winter storm.
Staten Island was hit especially hard, with unofficial totals topping 20 inches. Some estimates from the city’s Department of Sanitation reached as high as 30 inches.
What You Need To Know
Staten Island was hit especially hard by the most recent winter storm, with unofficial totals topping 20 inches. Some estimates from the city’s Department of Sanitation reached as high as 30 inches
Councilmember Frank Morano, who represents parts of the borough, joined “Mornings On 1” on Friday and described the storm and its impact on Staten Island as “a total disaster”
He called for better preparation ahead of the next storm and greater local autonomy for decisions such as shifting to remote learning
City Councilmember Frank Morano, who represents parts of the borough, joined “Mornings On 1” on Friday and described the storm and its impact on Staten Island as “a total disaster.”
He said the decision to bring students back to school Tuesday added to the stress.
“We have one train, which was suspended Tuesday morning, by the way, and we have cars, and people couldn’t get their cars out. They couldn’t get off their block,” he said. “School buses weren’t coming, and teachers had nowhere to park, and yet, teachers, parents and kids were expected to go get to school.”
Morano argued the impact was predictable and that the borough needed more resources sooner.
“This was totally foreseeable that we were going to be hit hard in advance, and yet we weren’t getting extra equipment to help clear out the snow ’til Tuesday night,” he said, adding that Staten Island’s hilly terrain should have been factored into storm planning.
He called for better preparation ahead of the next storm and greater “local autonomy” for decisions such as shifting to remote learning.
Tap the video player above to watch the interview.