NYC’s Mamdani Crushes Snow Day Hopes, But He Yearns for It Too

As the heaviest winter storm in years threatens to wallop New York City, one enterprising kid emailed Zohran Mamdani’s wife so that she might persuade him to declare a snow day.

Even though the child made a “great argument,” the mayor said, the answer was no.

It’s a charged topic not just for kids, but also adults. Since 2021, New York City has replaced traditional school closures during heavy snowfall with remote learning.

Children sled in Central Park in 2025. One reason for the death of snow days is that the pandemic spurred local authorities to develop stronger infrastructure for online learning.

Photographer: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images

That’s left nostalgic parents pining for what once was, and lamenting the loss of what they look back on as a touchstone of their own childhoods. ...