{"id":191841,"date":"2026-04-10T05:48:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T05:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/191841\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T05:48:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T05:48:37","slug":"northeast-snowstorm-buries-region-sparks-debate-over-school-reopenings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/191841\/","title":{"rendered":"Northeast Snowstorm Buries Region, Sparks Debate Over School Reopenings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AAs the Northeast braces for another potentially crippling snowstorm, the region’s residents face the daunting task of digging out from record-breaking accumulations that have disrupted daily life.Staten Island Today<\/p>\n

The Northeast U.S. is reeling from a snowstorm so intense, it’s being called the worst in a decade. With record-breaking snowfall in some areas\u2014like Rhode Island, which was buried under more than 3 feet of snow\u2014this storm has left thousands without power, canceled flights, and turned cities into winter wonderlands that are anything but magical. But the region’s troubles may not be over, as forecasters warn another storm could be on its way, threatening to pile on the misery.<\/p>\n

Why it matters<\/p>\n

This storm has exposed the region’s vulnerability to extreme winter weather, raising questions about whether cities like New York and Philadelphia should prioritize public safety over quickly reopening schools and businesses during such events. The debate over balancing safety and a return to normalcy is far from over.<\/p>\n

The details<\/p>\n

By Tuesday, the region began to dig out, thanks to heroic efforts from neighbors, government crews, and even a snow-clearing machine nicknamed Darth Vader. Roads started to reopen, power was restored to some of the hundreds of thousands affected, and mass transit systems sputtered back to life. Yet, the debate raged on: Should schools reopen? In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared schools would resume in-person learning, sparking controversy. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella argued they should stay closed, while teachers’ union leader Michael Mulgrew called the decision ‘a big mess.’ And this is the part most people miss: with snow still piled high, how safe\u2014or feasible\u2014is it for students and staff to commute?<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the region began to dig out from the record-breaking snowfall.Rhode Island was buried under more than 3 feet of snow, a record breaker.Central Park in New York City received 19 inches of snow.<\/p>\n

The players<\/p>\n

Zohran Mamdani<\/p>\n

The mayor of New York City who declared schools would resume in-person learning despite the snowstorm.<\/p>\n

Vito Fossella<\/p>\n

The Staten Island Borough President who argued schools should stay closed due to the dangerous conditions.<\/p>\n

Michael Mulgrew<\/p>\n

The teachers’ union leader who called the decision to reopen schools ‘a big mess.’<\/p>\n

Frank Pereira<\/p>\n

A meteorologist who warned that any additional snow on top of what’s already there could make cleanup nearly impossible.<\/p>\n

Christa Prince<\/p>\n

A Brooklyn resident who grabbed a shovel and snowblower to clear paths for stranded cars, demonstrating human kindness even in the coldest weather.<\/p>\n

Got photos? Submit your photos here. \u203a<\/a>
\n What they\u2019re saying<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident<\/p>\n

\u201cFifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Gordon Edgar, grocery employee<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next<\/p>\n

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.<\/p>\n

The takeaway<\/p>\n

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a As the Northeast braces for another potentially crippling snowstorm, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":191842,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-191841","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191841\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/191842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}