People: Weatherman Al Roker scolds NY mayor on snow days
He’s been in charge for only about a month, but New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio has already angered one famous city resident: Al Roker, weatherman of NBC and Weather Channel fame, who took off on the mayor on Twitter.
Despite 5 to 8 inches of snow falling during the morning commute Thursday, De Blasio and his schools chancellor, Carmen Farina, decided to keep the city’s public schools open, a decision that angered many parents, including Roker.
“Why are schools all around NYC closed? It’s going to take some kid or kids getting hurt before this goofball policy gets changed,” Roker wrote on Twitter. A few hours later, he again took to Twitter complaining that his daughter’s NYC public school was being let out early, which made parents and caregivers scramble to get home.
“Is there no one there with any common sense?” Roker tweeted. “Long range De Blasio forecast: one term.”
Roker continued to Tweet angrily as De Blasio began a news conference about the weather, repeatedly defending his decision to keep schools open. In that news conference, he said that the snow was heavier and faster than forecasts had predicted and that parents depended on New York to provide a safe place for their children during the day.
When asked at the news conference about Roker’s comments, De Blasio paused for a second.
“It’s a different thing to run a city than to give the weather on TV,” he said, to laughter.
Roker tweeted back a few minutes later.
“Mr. Mayor, I could never run NYC, but I know when it’s time to keep kids home from school.”
Lil’ Kim expecting littler Kim
Lil’ Kim is pregnant with her first child.
The rapper’s publicist C.J. Carter confirmed the news Thursday, a day after pictures of Kim’s baby bump began to circulate via social media following her appearance at New York Fashion Week.
The “Lady Marmalade” singer’s assistant Noel Perez said the 37-year-old is about five months along and due in May. No other details were available.
Lil’ Kim, whose real name is Kim Jones, debuted her baby bump in a tight dress at The Blonds fashion show.
The birthday bunch
TV personality Hugh Downs is 93. Actress-singer Florence Henderson is 80. Jazz musician Maceo Parker is 71. Journalist Carl Bernstein is 70. TV personality Pat O’Brien is 66. Magician Teller (Penn and Teller) is 66. Cajun singer-musician Michael Doucet (Beausoleil) is 63. Actor Ken Wahl is 57. Opera singer Renee Fleming is 55. Actress Meg Tilly is 54. Singer-producer Dwayne Wiggins is 53. Actor Simon Pegg is 44. Rock singer Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) is 42. Actor Matt Barr is 30. Actor Freddie Highmore is 22.