While he didn’t comment on the specifics of Mayor de Blasio’s school reopening plan, Governor Cuomo said no decision will be made until that plan is reviewed by the state.

What You Need To Know


  • Cuomo says the state will determine if schools can open in fall, not city.

  • More than 700 school districts statewide are submitting reopening plans, including city.

  • Cuomo says Trump has no say on New York school openings either.

“We want to make that decision with the best available data,” Cuomo said during a coronavirus briefing geared towards reopening New York schools. “The facts change here day to day, week to week,” Cuomo added.

There are more than 700 school districts throughout New York, and each will submit their reopening plans by July 31. The governor said the state will then make a determination about whether they can actually reopen, and announce it in the first week of August.

Asked if the details of Mayor de Blasio’s plan appeared satisfactory, Cuomo was less than complimentary.

“No, because I’m not going to say. Today does not determine credibility,” Cuomo said. “And you’re right, our numbers now are going down. We are also quarantining 19 states. You are seeing the infection rate go up all across the country.”

Cuomo also leveled criticism at President Trump, who has been urging schools to open in the fall. The president even threatened to cut off federal funding if schools do not comply.

“He wants the schools reopened. It’s not up to him. It’s not his legal authority,” Cuomo said. “Just like it wasn’t his legal authority to say when the economy reopens in this state.”

This is actually something that’s been happening throughout this pandemic.

Mayor de Blasio will come up with a plan on something only to have it initially dismissed by Governor Cuomo, who then embraces it days or even weeks later.

So, what happened Wednesday with schools, was actually quite familiar.