New York City public schools reopened for in-person learning Tuesday, February 24, 2026, following a historic blizzard that paralyzed the region, despite ongoing challenges with snow removal and concerns raised by the teachers’ union. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the decision Monday afternoon, prompting immediate pushback from some officials, particularly those representing Staten Island, which bore the brunt of the storm.
The blizzard brought downed trees to neighborhoods including SoHo, Greenwich Village, Bushwick and the Highbridge section of the Bronx, and left thousands of customers in Far Rockaway, Queens without power. On Staten Island, crews worked to free stranded city buses during the height of the storm. While a travel ban was lifted, Mayor Mamdani urged residents to remain indoors as the Department of Sanitation continued clearing streets.
“If you choose to drive, please exercise caution, travel slowly, and be mindful of others on the road,” Mamdani said in a social media post. “We continue to advise New Yorkers to stay safe and stay indoors as much as possible.”
The reopening of schools was met with resistance from the teachers’ union, which argued that returning to in-person classes so soon after the blizzard could pose safety risks for educators. “No one should jeopardize their safety to report to work,” a union representative stated.
More than 150,000 New Yorkers had signed an online petition requesting Mamdani to switch to remote learning for Tuesday, but the administration proceeded with the plan for in-person classes. School buses were scheduled to operate, ensuring student transportation.
Cleanup efforts continued to focus on Staten Island, where some streets remained unplowed more than 24 hours after the storm. Residents reported being unable to depart their homes, hindering access for emergency vehicles. “Nobody can move. A firetruck can’t get down here, ambulance, nothing. Nobody can move,” one Westerleigh resident told CBS News New York.
City officials responded by deploying “hundreds of pieces of equipment” and personnel to Staten Island, and announced the use of snow melters across all five boroughs. Javier Lojan, Interim Commissioner of the Department of Sanitation, acknowledged the difficulties posed by the city’s unique terrain. “Narrow streets and hill blocks just make it so much [more] difficult,” Lojan said. He also stated that emergency private contractors had been brought in to supplement existing resources.
The storm deposited 28-30 inches of snow across the city, according to Mamdani. Over 2,000 flights were canceled across the tri-state area as a result of the blizzard, and Broadway theaters remained closed.
