NYC Blizzard Disrupts Trash, Schools Reopen Tuesday

Mayor says tough decision made to resume classes despite ongoing storm impacts

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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New York City is grappling with a historic blizzard that began Sunday, impacting millions along the East Coast. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that while trash pickup will be delayed as the city focuses on snow removal, public schools are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, a decision he described as 'tough'.

Why it matters

The storm, which could bring up to 24 inches of snow to the Northeast, has already caused widespread disruption, with power outages affecting over 650,000 properties from Boston to Washington, DC. The mayor's decision to reopen schools reflects a balance between minimizing disruption to daily life and ensuring student safety.

The details

As of noon Monday, approximately 657,000 properties across the region were without power, including at least 20,000 in New York City and on Long Island. The lifting of the travel ban allowed for the resumption of subway and bus service, with few delays reported by the MTA early Monday afternoon. However, Metro-North is operating on a holiday schedule, with weekend service on branch lines. The Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit remain shut down.

  • The storm began on Sunday.
  • Mayor Mamdani announced the decision to reopen schools on Monday.
  • Trash pickup in New York City will be delayed as the city prioritizes snow removal efforts.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the decision to reopen schools and delay trash pickup.

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What’s next

As communities start the process of recovering from this significant weather event, the most crucial steps will be ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, restoring power and transportation, and clearing snow to allow for the resumption of essential services.

The takeaway

This blizzard highlights the challenges cities face in balancing the need for emergency response and infrastructure restoration with the desire to maintain routine services and minimize disruption to daily life. The mayor's decisions reflect the difficult trade-offs involved in managing a major weather crisis.