New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo cleared up some misinformation on Saturday after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he is keeping schools closed for the rest of the year.
Cuomo stated that Mayor Bill de Blasio does not have the authority to do so. “He didn’t close them, and he can’t open them,” Cuomo said two hours after de Blasio declared schools would remain closed until September.
Cuomo added to his statement by saying, “It is my legal authority in this situation. And any decision on the matter won’t be made soon. It’s not going to be decided in the next few days, because we don’t know,” Cuomo said during his daily briefing in Albany.
Freddi Goldstein, the spokeswoman for de Blasio took to Twitter to issue the Mayor’s response, saying the Governor’s reaction is similar to how Cuomo reacted when the mayor called for the stay at home order.
”We were right then and we’re right now. Schools will remain closed.”
Cuomo said he understood the mayor’s position, but said, ”You can’t make the decision just within New York City, without coordinating that decision with the whole metro region.”
”Any move to reopen public schools will need to be coordinated with the county executives of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland.” Cuomo said.
Cuomo also added that reopening schools would allow businesses to reopen as well.
”I don’t understand how you could start to open businesses in May but keep schools closed until June.” The Governor said, referring to de Blasio notion that businesses may be allowed to reopen next month.
”Opening up businesses would leave parents scrambling trying to figure out what to do with their children since the children won’t be able to attend school while their parents work,” Cuomo stated.
