Former City Administrator: Schools Should Be Open Today

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Former Deputy Managing Director of Philadelphia, Jay A. McCalla criticized Mayor Jim Kenney and City Council for not finding a way to open Philadelphia's schools following snow storm Jonas.

McCalla told Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that the rest of the city is dealing with the snow just fine.

"Airlines are back to normal. City Hall is open. The workers are back. Starbucks is open. Dunkin' Donuts is open. It's because their number one priority is delivering their service. That's their number one priority."

He said making sure schools were open was, obviously, not a key agenda item for anyone in city government.

"When it comes to the basic mission of let's open and let's educate the kids, it's just not on their radar. We all assume the schools will be closed. We didn't assume it was a priority for the government and we were right."

McCalla pointed out that Mayor Kenney and Council President Darrell Clarke campaigned on improving education, but today's actions don't back that up.

"If you're the Mayor of this city, all you have to do is say, give me that. I lay it at Jim Kenney's feet, I lay it at Darrell Clarke's feet because they both made education such a big deal in their resumes and how they talked to the people, I care about you kids. Quality education is number one. Well, not so much. How do you distinguish between we're able to bring all of our city work force in and, nah, we'll keep the schools closed another day."