Al Roker, de Blasio Smooth Over Their Snow Spat

NBC weatherman Al Roker and New York City’s mayor made up Monday after a spat over snow and school closings.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the meteorologist met cordially about two weeks after Roker lambasted de Blasio for keeping schools open during a storm that left nearly 10 inches of snow; most other schools in the region were closed. Roker suggested that the city’s “goofball policy” could endanger children and predicted “one term” for the mayor.

On Monday, Roker said the two had chatted about snow and schools, “and we both want the best for the school kids and our city.” Both have children attending the city’s public schools.

De Blasio said letting people know about weather hazards is “something we do together,” and he jovially invited Roker to make it even more of a joint effort.

The mayor gave Roker a city Sanitation Department baseball cap and invited him to join in next time the city needs to plow.

“If you’d like to come out and join us for snow clearance, this could be a new part of your career,” de Blasio said.

“I’d love to do it,” Roker responded, adding that his father was a city bus driver.

That opportunity could come soon. The National Weather Service is forecasting snow in the city Wednesday and Saturday. De Blasio jokingly announced the forecast on the NBC show.

Roker had apologized earlier for one aspect of the snowflake flap: his online post forecasting one term for the new mayor.

De Blasio has said the city was right to keep schools open during the Feb. 13 storm. He’s noted that many parents depend on schools to watch over their children while they are at work.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the February 25th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.