For many New Yorkers, Tuesday's snow day came at a cost. Some businesses and workers lost income that they might never recover. NY1's Rocco Vertuccio filed this report.
Union Square returned to its overcrowded self Wednesday as New Yorkers went back to work after a rare snow day off .
"It's a drag that's all I can say I'm dragging myself back to work," one commuter said.
Some workers say the real drag was losing a day's pay when the city shut down Monday night and Tuesday ahead of a storm that ended up giving the five boroughs only a glancing blow .
"I lost a lot. The bills I have to pay are so high ," said cab driver Gene Cadet.
Cab drivers and restaurant workers, who rely on tips, took a big financial hit . A travel ban and the decision to shut down the subway system prevented anyone from going anywhere during the storm. Cab driver Luis Castro says he lost about $200.
Castro: "That's a lot of money for us."
Vertuccio: You can't make that up ?"
Castro: "No, unless you work 15-16 hours a day."
Economists estimate the city's economy lost about $200 million during the storm.
The mayor, the governor and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are defending their response to the storm. They say better safe than sorry. Many commuters who returned to work Wednesday agree.
"Hindsight is 20/20 but safety first I guess," one commuter said.
"They took their precautions they got it cleaned up and that's why we're up and running today," another commuter said.
Economists say the city will recover much of what it lost once people return to shopping and seeing shows. However, the city's 24,000 restaurants won't recover what they lost .