New York City mayor orders public schools shut for rest of school year; Cuomo says it's his call

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. APRIL 11, 2020 / 10:19 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

New York City mayor orders public schools shut for rest of school year; Cuomo says it's his call

(Reuters) - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Saturday public schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year as the city battles the novel coronavirus outbreak.

“Having to tell you that we cannot bring our schools back for the remainder of this school year is painful, but I can also tell you it is the right thing to do,” he told a news conference.

De Blasio had ordered public schools shut beginning March 16 to curb the spread of the disease, with an initial goal of reopening by April 20. But the mayor said it soon became clear that goal was unrealistic as the city emerged as a major U.S. coronavirus hot spot.

A few hours later, New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo pushed back on the mayor’s announcement, saying there had been no decision on school closures.

Cuomo said de Blasio could not unilaterally close New York City’s schools without coordinating with the rest of the metropolitan area, and insisted the decision to reopen New York schools rested with him.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-new-york/new-york-city-mayor-orders-public-schools-shut-for-rest-of-school-year-cuomo-says-its-his-call-idUSKCN21T0KU

[Indykatie]

1. Mayor's Having Been Making The Call On Whether To Close Schools All Over the Country

For as well as Cuomo has been in navigating the CV-19 crisis in NY I think this is an example of him being controlling and not playing nice with the others. DeBlasio should control the decision on NYC schools just like in other states. I know there's no love lost between the two but this is still not right.