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by Melissa Bailey | Jan 27, 2011 2:34 pm

(57) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Environment

Thomas MacMillan Photo Mayor John DeStefano appealed for the public’s patience and cooperation as the city scurries to clear streets of more than a foot of new snow in what’s already been the snowiest month on record. Meanwhile, one alderman offered a critique of what he called a chaotic cleanup.

The mayor announced at a 10 a.m. press conference at the Emergency Operations Center in the basement of 200 Orange St. that the city aims to have plowed all streets at least once by 7 p.m.

DeStefano said everyone needs to work together to help the city clean up.

“Let’s just be patient and take it easy with one another right now,” he said.

“Look, a lot of snow fell in a very brief period of time, and a lot of snow has fallen over the last week,” DeStefano remarked. “I just think that an expectation that it all gets removed in a couple of hours is impractical.”

DeStefano said there have been no cases where the snow prevented the city from making an emergency call for service.

He urged people to stay at home as the city’s 50 vehicles dig out from 13 1/2 inches of snow that dumped on New Haven overnight. He warned that cars will be towed off city streets if they are found on downtown streets or posted emergency routes.

“You will be towed if you park downtown,” DeStefano warned. He spoke wearing a Syracuse hooded sweatshirt. Like many city officials, he rose early to man the emergency center as the city reeled from the storm. The city is keeping the phone lines open at 203-946-8221 for anyone who needs help in the storm.

Melissa Bailey Photo Mid-morning, the phones kept ringing, and a host of public safety officials and mayoral staffers were there to pick them up.

As the mayor spoke, the city was sending a police squad car down Orange Street with a megaphone to warn East Rockers that they would be enforcing a citywide ban on parking on the odd side of the street.

Residents will get 12 hours notice before the city tows, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts. That means cars need to be moved by 7 p.m. tonight. The city’s tow-and-plow team is targeting Orange Street first because it is a main arterial road that emergency vehicles need to get through, Smuts said. Opening up spots on Orange Street will leave room for people on narrow side streets to park there, he reasoned.

Thomas MacMillan Photo Smuts said while snow proves problematic around town, East Rock has the most cars packed densely on residential streets, Smuts said. After clearing Orange Street, the crews plan to hit Willow Street, which is a posted emergency route, Smuts said.

The mayor urged residents to get their cars off the streets and onto a number of free parking lots around the city. Click here for a list of emergency routes and places you can park.

Drivers whose cars are towed will be charged a $88 towing fee, plus a possible $100 ticket if the car was parked in an emergency route.

Garbage pickup scheduled for Thursday will be postponed until Friday, and Friday pickup will take place Saturday.

The heavy snow left many drivers stranded in the street, unable to move their cars.

Overnight, the city got 77 reports of vehicles that had been abandoned in the street after getting stuck. As of 10 a.m., that number had fallen to the 20s, DeStefano said.

Melissa Bailey Photo This storm proved especially difficult because there were still snowbanks piled high from prior storms. Because of the large amount of snow, the city dispatched inspectors to check out buildings that may be in risk of collapse. City building chief Andy Rizzo said he made the rounds through old factory buildings and modern buildings with canopies, looking for snow piled high on flat roofs. He said he found one building of particular concern—a Mobil station at State and Humphrey streets, where snow piled high on a canopy over the gas pumps.

He said the city marked off the area with caution tape.

By the time the city is done cleaning up all this snow, “we’re going to fully exhaust our snow budget,” said the mayor. The city budgeted $485,000 in overtime costs for the Department of Public Works; that amount will be depleted by the time crews clean up from this storm, Smuts said.

Alderman Matt Smith, who was positioned outside the press conference, issued a critique of the city’s cleanup.

“While I do think DPW is doing the best they can, they simply lack the resources to keep up with snowfalls that measure in feet, rather than inches and fall within a week of each other,” Smith said. He called on the mayor to add to the city’s fleet by leasing more payloaders to send into neighborhoods, as well as to seek extra financial support from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Relayed those suggestions, the mayor replied that the state is already getting FEMA money for the snow cleanup, and that the city already has contractors that use payloaders to cart away the snow.

In order to qualify for a FEMA reimbursement, the city has to exceed a spending threshold, city spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga said. “We will likely meet the number and submit for the last big storm and this one.”

Alderman Smith (pictured) remained frustrated and concerned. He said just Thursday morning, he saw a fire truck, with sirens on, trying to make it through East Rock. It took five minutes to move from Bishop Street to Pearl, he said.

Smith said the city should have done more to prepare for the storm. It should have aggressively towed cars to enforce the odd-side parking ban, he said. And there should be payloaders in neighborhoods to carry away the snow, not just on select streets and downtown.

Smith said he has responded to “hundreds” of emails and calls about snow removal and parking. He accused the administration of a “failure of leadership” in providing clear directions and giving the public confidence through the emergency.

“There’s no visible person at the helm spearheading this,” Smith charged.

The city at 7 a.m. sent an email announcing the city would be towing on Orange Street today. Smith said that was not much time to relay the news to neighbors that they have got to start digging out, or face an $88 tow fee.

“They change the rules in the middle of the game,” Smith protested.

“Snow is an upredictable event,” Smuts later responded. “We have to react on the fly. That’s never going to change.” Smuts said residents should use common sense about when to dig out their cars, especially on emergency routes.

The mayor said residents would be given plenty of warning, through emergency phone calls and through alerts on the city website, before cars are towed.

Thomas MacMillan Photo

Comments

posted by: midwesterner on January 27, 2011 3:06pm

pushing for the even/odd day/side thing again.

also, do they know that they should plow the side streets first? no point in plowing the big streets if people can’t get to them.

vote ‘midwestern’ for snow czar.

posted by: Cedarhillresident on January 27, 2011 3:07pm

I officially hate snow! :P

posted by: Rich on January 27, 2011 3:13pm

Meanwhile, I’m paying for parking in a downtown garage to observe the parking ban, and not one pass of a plow on our street, and cars are still parked here without tickets. Why should I pay (probably for several nights of this ban) when no one enforces this?! I’d rather be in a garage during this, but c’mon already New Haven!

posted by: NHCop on January 27, 2011 3:21pm

No, we didn’t miss any emergency calls-for-service, it just took 45 minutes to get to a location 5 minutes away. Way to dodge that one, Johnny…

posted by: juli on January 27, 2011 3:50pm

it’s a darn good thing that we can walk in a circle around that statue. SO glad resources have been properly deployed.

posted by: new haven resident on January 27, 2011 3:54pm

A take on the mayor wearing his Syracuse hooded sweatshirt.He should take a lesson from his police chiefs who insist on detectives to be attired in business attire at all times and hours….

posted by: abg on January 27, 2011 3:58pm

FYI there’s a snowman contest in East Rock Park… special prize category for effigies of the mayor

posted by: SP on January 27, 2011 4:07pm

Wooster street is a mess again! I am proud to report that most of us observed the odd side ban, but for what? Only one narrow lane down the center was plowed before the snow stopped. The odd side isn’t plowed. Our fire hydrants are blocked. This is totally unacceptable!

posted by: ALCATRAZ on January 27, 2011 4:07pm

Yeah right. I have a reasonable expectation. My street has not been plowed properly since the last 3 storms, and was 6 ins to a foot deep before last night. Where were the snow plows, John???

I now see the Green being plowed so a few Yalies can have a good time making Snow Men. I have a reasonable expectation that city government is not totally stupid. This is really really stupid. These people should be cleaning up downtown sidewalks so business can get up and running again. Having a good time on the Green can wait.

I have a reasonable expectation that all parts of the City should get equal treatment. Looks to me Orange Street is the center of the universe right now. Is this Smith character the acting Mayor.?

I have a reasonable expectation that emergencies are managed by professionals. Where’s John Prokop in all this?

....

I have a reasonable expectation that people will tell the truth. Biggest months snowfall in New Havens history. 6 foot came down just one night in the blizzard of 1943. There are photos of all the streets cleared the next day and piles 12 feet high on Chapel Street.

posted by: juli on January 27, 2011 4:22pm

I too am infuriated at the lack of leadership, oversight and accountability. Yes, it has been a rough winter. And, yes, we are in an intensely tight economic time. However, the priority of keeping citizens safe should be number one. Always. It is an administration’s job to make cuts where needed in order to do so. That is why people are elected or hired: to serve the people that got them there. That is where our tax dollars are intended to go. That is the purpose of paying taxes, to state the obvious, yet it is often overlooked.

The sidewalks have been beyond treacherous for far too long. As a relatively young and able-bodied and active person, I have had several very scary close calls, lucky to have avoided serious injury.

Why have the ordinance forcing residents to shovel properly, especially pedestrian access on curb cuts, if it is not enforced consistently? I could name ten egregious violators on my block alone off the top of my head. Leave an infraction on the doorknobs of the violators, and either the landlord or homeowner pays, or the tenant pays and subtracts that amount from their rent the next month.

How are the elderly supposed to manage? The disabled? Walking to work on State street, not one single handicapped access was properly plowed, from Mechanic street to Chapel. If I was in a wheelchair, I would have had to take my chances in the street instead.

During the snowstorm last night, I saw not a single plow while downtown from three p.m. until three a.m. That could be coincidence, or that just means they decided to wait until this morning, without considering how perilous this could be for some. A coworker drove me home, and I am not exaggerating when I say that we saw a car stuck in every intersection we passed through. I spent forty minutes or so helping a car stuck at the end of State Street at the detour at around three. They were almost out of gas, and probably were among the abandoned cars this morning.

I am truly disappointed in my city. It pains me to say that I am beginning to understand why some folks have left, and why they carry with them intense bitterness, like paying enormous taxes and reaping very, very little benefit in terms of services provided.

posted by: john on January 27, 2011 4:34pm

@alcatraz: remember that the green is under the jurisdiction of a different entity, and that entity is not yale. they can use old campus if they want to make snowmen. they do not *need* your quaint little green and the idea that this is somehow the reason that the green is plowed is, well, uneducated…

i’ve been pleased with the snow removal on major thoroughfares. a couple of times the plows came by and they made the road worse , but this was mostly because they were finally plowing out snow from the first storm that had been previously blocked by parked cars. in this respect i do think the mayor is right: the snow will take awhile to plow, because there is a lot of it.

what REALLY gets me steamed is the people who shovel, snow-blow, or PLOW their driveways into the main streets. not only does this make the road impassable (and there’s no guarantee that the city plows will come back again) but it also means that if the city plows DO come back again, they will be throwing that additional snow onto people’s driveway aprons who have taken the time to clean their easement responsibly. this is an issue where people really need to think about the golden rule, and the right course of action will be clear.

posted by: Cedarhillresident on January 27, 2011 4:39pm

I have to say one thing….Matt and Justin both have been beacons in this whole thing…making sure we have a clue what is happening, I got a call from my dad, that for the FIRST TIME EVER, his street…(Matt smiths ward), got PLOWED RIGHT! Dude you totally rock!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!
And justin we know I am a big justin fan :) Two totally amazing and PRO ACTIVE ALDERS!!!!!! Trying to make this whole thing work!! THANK YOU MATT and Thank you Justin!!

posted by: Terrapin on January 27, 2011 4:48pm

Really? Clearing the Green and around the Amitad statue while people are stuck in their neighborhoods? How about using the Green as a place to dump all the snow that should be getting trucked out of their snow-clogged side streets? The sweatshirt is a nice touch, but the “this is too big of an emergency for me to take the time to dress like the mayor” act only works if you are actually getting things done, Mr. Mayor…

posted by: DownTowner on January 27, 2011 4:48pm

While I understand the frustration of everyone else around the city, it sure didn’t feel like Orange Street and downtown were getting any special treatment this morning! I parked in the Audubon Garage overnight, and I wasn’t able to get to work until after noon this morning because the garage wouldn’t reopen until the city had plowed Audubon St! The garage usually opens at 7, today at 11!

I understand and appreciate the mayors parking ban, and I have no problem complying; but if you’re going to make me park in a garage, and make me pay $14 to park it overnight, how about making sure the plows give the streets around the garages one measly pass so I can get the hell out in time to get to work?

I think that’s a reasonable expectation.

posted by: Gary Doyens on January 27, 2011 5:03pm

... The mayor says he’s out of snow money. Sounds like a we’re in for a Snow Authority - Sources didn’t say but I believe the alders will take it up at their next meeting on an expedited public hearing, vote and forward to the full BOA. Every resident (not property owner) will be issued a bill for $300 to cover the cost of snow removal, overtime, trucks and salt. Payable immediately. The current snow program costs $485K but the cost of the new Snow Authority will cost $1.5 million. That covers billing, collections and some new equipment.

You can mitigate your $300 snow bill by shoveling your own walk, driveway and part of the street. However, under no circumstances will the credits you’re given, amount to more than $10. There will be no appeals.

The real benefit is an environmental one - the storm authority will encourage you to shovel your walks, driveways and part of the street and gutter and this will cut down on the amount of debris that may eventually wash into the storm drains and could once in a blue moon cause some minor pollution to the sound. No, the Snow Authority will not change anything that its currently doing to make environmental improvements or to treat the snow. It will just be an inducement to you to spend time and money that may mitigate any environmental impact of all that snow.

There will be a public hearing to be announced shortly. The administration will spend 5 hours disclosing minimal details and dubious financial accounting. That will be followed by thirty seconds of public testimony to anybody who wants to sit through all five hours. There will be a limit of 10 people who can testify so choose carefully.

Happy shoveling.

posted by: nfjanette on January 27, 2011 5:05pm

This is a day late and a dollar short. The city’s failure to publicize and then enforce alternate side parking bans has already caused layers of ice over a foot thick in some places that will resist most plow blades at this point. My driveway, which is on the “even” side of the street, was blocked by a mountain of snow and ice over three feet high and eight feet deep because cars remained parked on the “odd” side and the plows could not direct the snow properly.

While it’s great that many many people have come outside and helped their neighbors shovel snow over the past weeks, in general it’s clear that we cannot rely upon everyone to do the correct thing and observe the parking ban voluntarily. The city could also do more along the lines of the free parking offer briefly in downtown garages and perhaps working with store owners with large parking lots to provide alternate locations for parking during the bans. The snow removal efforts will always be hampered until the city gets serious about this issue.

posted by: jim on January 27, 2011 5:14pm

So yesterday I went out and moved the car from the odd side to the even side. Then the snow and no plow. If we have to move back to the odd side we will have to park in the middle of the street..!! Greene St.

posted by: anon on January 27, 2011 5:28pm

Snow plan:

1. Choose 10 of the 100+ BOE administrators (perhaps the 10 lowest-performing, or 10 highest-paid, average salary + benefits of $300K+, about 10 times a typical New Haven family).

2. Reduce each salary + benefit package by 10% (probably not drastic enough considering our 58 million dollar budget gap).

3. Right there you have your money for clearing up after several huge storms.

Since virtually all BOE administrators live in the suburbs, do not pay taxes, do support local stores/jobs here, and drive city-funded SUVs to work, they have little concern for the “little people” who have to walk, bike, take the bus or drive their own car through 3 feet of snow to get to work (if we even have jobs).

If the taxpayers start making them care by cutting off their SUV payments, perhaps they’ll help us lobby for more FEMA money, an extra snow plow, or better bus service next year.

posted by: robn on January 27, 2011 5:37pm

I’ve been wondering why, after being buried so recently by so many storms, so many Ivy League educated people continue to leave their cars out on the street instead of moving them into a garage downtown.

ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¤°¨¨°º¤ø„¸„ø¤º°¨¨
MIDWESTERNER FOR SNOW CZAR!
ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¤°¨¨°º¤ø„¸„ø¤º°¨¨

posted by: William Kurtz on January 27, 2011 5:40pm

Vote Juli for ‘Snow Czar.’

posted by: ag on January 27, 2011 6:22pm

For those of you angry that the Green gets taken care of before the streets, you should know that the Green is a private park - it is being cared for not by the city, but by the Trust members that own it. This also explains why the sidewalks in front of so many buildings downtown are in such good shape - they are being taken care of not by the city, but by private contractors.

posted by: cara on January 27, 2011 6:43pm

I would like to give some support to our New Haven Public School Custodians. A lot of negative stuff is always said regarding their work and laziness, well my husband is one of them and had to go in this morning when the Mayor told everyone to stay at home, except for the Custodians, and let me tell you I drove by his school on the way to work this morning and what a difference between what the Custodians had done to what the Private Contractors had done. think again Mr Clark and you Mr Mayor about Privatization. = CORRUPTION

posted by: MRM on January 27, 2011 7:54pm

In addition to the even/odd day concept, maybe Midwesterner could implement a program based on how well a street’s residents clear their walks. Say, if more than 5 walks on a given street are uncleared, no plowing (excepting emergency routes). Half-kidding here, but clear those walks! Even if you are a renter! Take one for the team and make your walks walkable for those who need to move around. A short tale; my landlords are great and always shovel, but couldn’t get out of their driveway today. So, I knocked on my fellow apartment dweller’s doors, explained, and though only two of us were willing, began shoveling. Our walk was cleared in about an hour and a half, and is now bone dry. Those neighbors on either side though…

posted by: Not ag on January 27, 2011 8:04pm

The last photo clearly shows a NH Parks employee clearing snow from the Green. No doubt the Trust has already made the right campaign contributions. All we, the taxpayers, get is a photo of the mayor in a Syracuse hoodie. He must think we are all stupid.

posted by: Sunday on January 27, 2011 8:07pm

I can not understand why people that have driveways and garages choose to park on the streets. These cars should be towed because it is not fair to the homeowners when the snowplow come by and cannot plow near there driveways but end up dumping the snow at the entrance in order to go around the park vehicle.Let’s learn how to be consider to “thy neighbors.”

posted by: Anderson Scooper on January 27, 2011 8:07pm

All I can say is “my god, what a lot of snow!”

Frankly I was surprised this afternoon that traffic could move at all.

But it was moving, people somehow making it from home to work and then back to home. Not to mention the countless pedestrians who were going about their business,managing pretty well overall, despite snow conditions that have made New Haven look like Quebec.

A big thank you to all the people working to dig us out. And let’s hope the snow gods give us a February break!

posted by: Rich on January 27, 2011 8:11pm

Well its not just after 7 pm, and no sign of a plow truck yet on our street, and we live in the downtown snow emergency parking ban area.

Our reliable mayor said the streets would be plowed by 7pm, he never said on what day!

posted by: Sick&Tired; on January 27, 2011 8:15pm

@Cedarhillresident, I’m glad you have an Alderman that cares enough to try to help. Our Alderman (13th Ward) told us to deal with it. Really? I know what you guys are thinking, we are being babies, but the truth of the matter is, we have been dealing with this for a few years now not just this winter. MANY times we never even see a plow. We have to group together and snow-blow or shovel each other out even the street. I understand this was a very bad storm, but for us, it’s EVERY storm we have a problem.

posted by: Tim on January 27, 2011 8:19pm

First, where was that pic taken from?

Second, I know most people want to have something to complain about, but I must say, that driving my wife to YNHH from Blake Street this morning, the drive was so much better than I would expect it. Cant say what it was like for most people of course, but for me, good job goes out to the public works dept.

posted by: deepley concerned on January 27, 2011 8:24pm

Forget the snow. What’s the mayor of a large Connecticut city and a UCONN graduate doing wearing a Syracuse sweat shirt. And he wanted to be Governor.

posted by: MC on January 27, 2011 8:26pm

I’ve been a long supported of the Mayor; I always thought he was a capable administrator, that instilled confidence.
I find the NHI video showing a different mayor. He doesn’t look like he is in charge. Maybe there is a lot of snow, maybe the streets can’t handle it anymore, but the Mayor needs to be more mayor–like…
He’s now even taking shots from some of “his’ Aldermen…Ald Smith isn’t one of the anti-mayor alderman and he’s even saying the Mayor needs to be better.
All this is adding up, maybe he’s been the Mayor for to long.
And please Mayor lose the ‘Cuse sweatshirt…maybe the Gov can send down one of his TEAM MALLOY WYMAN jackets.

posted by: D on January 27, 2011 8:41pm

Still waiting for Anderson Street (7:30pm) to be plowed or something…. Neighbors actually took it on themselves to hand shovel 3/4 of the street themselves and ensure cars were moved to one side og the street.

posted by: Fairhaven Dave on January 27, 2011 9:02pm

Right now we have a mess laying on a half cleaned up mess.

You don’t wait for the snow to stop to begin plowing, you don’t clear one lane out of three and call the street cleared, and you sure as heck don’t stop cleaning up until every inch of pavement, parking spots, and sidewalks are clear.

Perhaps it’s time to send some plow-persons to Vermont to teach them how to clear a road correctly. I’m not under the impression they are lacking gear, personnel, or finances, just technique and tenacity.

posted by: Deborah Lyons on January 27, 2011 9:37pm

The city has been on Revere street once early this morning while it was still snowing. The did Lexington Ave poorly and would not come down Revere St. The blocked to street with 3 feet of snow. The last big storm the said and had it posted in the newspaper that they were coming to remove the snow. The city have not shown up yet. I know there is a lot of snow but there is more to the city than downtown and Wooster Square.

posted by: Lincoln Robertson on January 27, 2011 11:33pm

It’s management. Really, it is. The schools aren’t cleaned, it’s the janitor’s fault. The streets aren’t cleared of snow, it’s Syracuses’s fault. The city’s running out of cash. It’s the Governor’s fault. Well, I’ll be patient. November is only 260 days from now. Oh, and who appoints the management. I don’t know, but it’s obviously not the mayor. Maybe someone in Syracuse. My Eff - King street has yet to see a snow plow since the first snow fell. Who am I to complain. A nobody on Sheffield Street who pays $7,000 in taxes.

posted by: DavidK on January 28, 2011 12:02am

I am trying to clear my driveway to get my car and mail my property tax check at the post office. Alas, off street parkers dump snow in my driveway and plows finish it off by adding to the mayhem. I guess I can’t get to the post office.

posted by: Seriously -- get real on January 28, 2011 1:07am

The comments on this article are ridiculous. This has been the heaviest snow in the HISTORY of a January in the State of Connecticut.

Waah! Waah! The City of New Haven hasn’t cleared every street 12 hours after the snow stopped.

Seriously, break away from your computer screen and turn on the weather channel. Cities all over the northeast are on lockdown.

New York City completely failed to pick up the snow from the first big storm a week after. New Haven was drivable within a day.

Even now you can drive pretty much anywhere in New Haven. Have they cleared two lanes in both directions everywhere? No they haven’t but so what!

Seriously, go look at pictures of Boston or Providence or New York or Springfield or Hartford. New Haven is doing a better job than any of them.

It’s snow . . . It’s a lot of snow. The City is working hard to pick it up. They delayed trash pickup by . . . wait for it . . . 1 day.

Seriously, New Haven has not always done a great job on snow pick up over the last thirty years, but the last few years have been fine including this one given the repeated blizzards.

I see no point in cheerleading for Aldermen who can’t understand that IT’S A LOT OF SNOW!!!!! If they can find a Connecticut City that seems to be doing a better job, that would be one thing but come on it should not be surprising that it’s going to take a day to get roads passable and a couple days to make them drivable.

BECAUSE . . . It’s a lot of snow. You got some calls from angry constituents? Really? I hurt for you. You have to look to your voters like your pissed . . . okay mission accomplished. Now would be a good time to also look like an adult.

I encourage grumpy aldermen to go outside and make snow angels cause lord knows you need them.

posted by: Moti Sandman on January 28, 2011 2:55am

For the most part I have been pleased with the snow removal in New Haven. The main streets I travel on were clean as of this AM (Whalley, Ella Grasso Blvd from Whalley, Derby, Post Road). My street was done once early in the AM and later in the afternoon. As a number of commenters mentioned, the biggest problem is folks trowing snow into the plowed street and/or parking on the wrong side. Everyone got the auto call telling you how to park. This info was reported by the local news media. The plow driver working my block was conscientious and did a good job. I only hope that they can get curb to curb because as of now we are 3 - 4 feet off of the curb from each side. I don’t mind cleaning my apron again if the plow to the curb.

When I was an Alderman I ran into this problem durring most storms. There is no easy answer that will please all of the people. You will upset someone. Either you will tow a person who can’t afford the fine and fee and can’t get to work, or someone will not be able to get their car out for a week because they were plowed in. You can’t win.
That being said, I feel that block where you have multi family homes and you have more people parking in the street the city should strictly enforce the parking ban and tow and clean the streets as they should. Robocall the streets have a cop go out and use his speaker but the streets must get cleaned.

BTW I was downtown last night around 10pm and saw Laydon trucks plowing and salting downtown.

posted by: Alex Rhodeen on January 28, 2011 2:57am

Sick&Tired; -

I spoke or e-mailed with dozens of neighbors today and never said or wrote “deal with it.” I explained that the city was still working on clearing primary streets in to the afternoon and that Fair Haven Heights is comprised mostly of secondary streets (I don’t view them that way but that’s how the city views them). I was on the phone or e-mail most of the day with the city and continue to monitor the progress.

I also apologized for the slow rate at which streets were being cleared and I asked for patience. If any of my words gave the implication that neighbors should “deal with it” then I apologize but I don’t believe that to be the case.

Feel free to e-mail me to discuss further.

All my best,

Alex Rhodeen
Alderman for Ward 13

posted by: anon on January 28, 2011 3:38am

... Perkins street didn’t have one plow drive through and a fire truck couldn’t drive on the street and a police officer had to come and call for public works at 500pm.
Pierpont street and Houston street were the same!! ...

posted by: Alina B on January 28, 2011 8:28am

Deborah, Wooster Square has not been cleaned either….

posted by: fairhaven on January 28, 2011 9:16am

Public works were called 3 times Thursday a resident needed medical attention who lived on Houston St.
There was no way to get there Pierpont st was not plowed ONCE the medical crew could not get down any side streets they drove down east pearl St which is one way to get to that tax-payer and East pearl is a mess tow those cars who ignore the rules and more snow to come !!!!

posted by: Embarrassing on January 28, 2011 10:41am

I didn’t know New Haven had so many whiners. It’s kind of embarrassing. You would think that given the magnitude of the storm people would get over themselves and try to help out.

Happy to say that on my street (and at the risk of stating the obvious I do not live in East Rock—or Wooster) everyone was out on the street helping each other out. Yes, the street was plowed but this weather has broken all records there was still way too much snow everywhere. We should try to do the best we can—for ourselves, our neighbors and the city.

posted by: robn on January 28, 2011 10:42am

Honestly we wouldn’t have this problem if people took their cars off of the streets into garages and lots. City plows aren’t being obstructed by snow, they’re being obstructed by truculent parkers.

And Gary made a joke about a snow authority but the truth of the matter is, issues of water and snow management aren’t that far apart. If somebody builds out the maximum garage allowed, paves most of their backyard, then builds some other obstruction like a deck or shed in the remaining backyard space, they’re creating a situation where their plowers will HAVE to illegally plow into the street. The problem starts with irresponsible planning and continues with irresponsible and illegal direction to plowing contractors.

Same goes for shoveling scofflaws. I shoveled my block yesterday, not for those scofflaws, but for all of my fellow walkers and the mailmen. If I could send the scofflaws a bill I would, but I would happily settle for some aggressive ticketing by the city. Look for the houses with shoveled sidewalks and unshovelled stoops. Agree completely with MRM…in my days as a renter I didn’t think twice about shovelling the walks in front of the two family home I lived in.

posted by: Bertae on January 28, 2011 11:18am

I just want to thank Darnell Goldson for the great job he did yesterday, helping the stranded citizens on Valley Pl. South, he initiated responsibility by checking on his ward.

I’m glad I voted for you. Keep up the good Work!

posted by: John on January 28, 2011 12:01pm

In the 1970’s and 1980’s residents were permitted to move their vehicles to the closest school parking lot before a major snow storm. Public works could then plow both sides of the streets durning the storm. The vehicles were then moved back to the cleared streets and the school lots were cleaned.
This elevates residents having to pay for parking in lots far from their homes or have their vehicles towed.

posted by: St John St on January 28, 2011 12:12pm

Patience!?! It isn’t that neighbor didn’t help neighbor…it isn’t that the plow didn’t come down the middle of the street…it isn’t even that the Amistad statue was shoveled out (well maybe a little)...it is that the City threatened to tag and tow and then they didn’t! I’ve done my part - now CONH do yours!!

posted by: robn on January 28, 2011 12:34pm

odd date-park on odd side
even date-park on even side

Rules go into effect 8 p.m. night before the storm and that’s exactly when the towing begins…BEFORE not after.

If you agree, vote for it.

http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/74270-parking-rules-for-snow-days-suggestion-for-wording

posted by: Mr. Plow Thats My Name on January 28, 2011 1:07pm

It is a big time lack of responsibility when people are shoveling themselves out only to drive on streets that they get stuck in. It shouldn’t be about money and budgets, plow periodically not at the end of the the darn storm! I go to Hamden and it’s as if it never snowed. For the city of NH to not have adequate vehicles,money aside is foolish and all this rhetoric about money just show the lemming citizens rather Yale affiliated or not what you get for following idiots pay taxes in return for nothing means your downright insane or just like wasting your money. There are hundreds of independent contractors, landscapers and opportunist with plows who get paid but who don’t willingly assist people who are in need where is the unity during the storm? if no one got paid to plow city or independent we’d still be stuck today. I understand liability issues but are we as a community even being honest with our selves? this is New England! No one wants to take responsibility these days and it’s just sad from an overall human needs perspective. God forbid a real disaster happens are we going to be debating about budgets while people are suffering or stranded? wait i forgot this is America keep on voting and hoping people good luck with your dream.

posted by: William Kurtz on January 28, 2011 1:17pm

RobN for Snow Czar.

posted by: robn on January 28, 2011 1:30pm

ALCATRAZ,

Where are you getting a 6 foot blizzard in 1943?

This is what I’ve got…

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2688&q=322366

30”-35” average winter snowfall along CT coast
45.3” total snowfall for the month of December 1945 (snowiest month ever in CT)
115.2” total snowfall for 1996 (snowiest year ever in CT)
24” blizzard of 1978 February
40” blizzard of 1888 March (official record keeping began in 1905)
22” blizzard 1956 March (snowiest March ever in CT)

posted by: streever on January 28, 2011 1:33pm

The police were not able to respond to calls even as late as yesterday, according to the dispatcher who called me at FOUR AM. FOUR AM because I had reported a car blow a red light as I was crossing the street and given the plate.

I’m sorry, but the line from the city that “emergency vehicles are not impeded” is just that, a line.

I am still willing to give them a pass on the plowing! Don’t get me wrong. This was a historic snowy season so far.

Just, be honest and forthright. “Yes, emergency service will suffer. We have experienced one of the worst blizzards the region has seen in a century. We’re doing everything we can to restore normal service.”

Don’t lie—don’t claim you have no problems getting emergency vehicles around. If the police can’t make it to their calls as Dispatch informed me this morning, that isn’t “no problems”. I’m totally aware that my report was a pretty minor issue—and glad that the police didn’t rush to my house—but according to the dispatcher, even serious calls had late responses.

I am sick & tired of a Mayor’s office that always says, “Oh yea things aren’t perfect but the things that really matter are all totally resolved & perfect! Butterflies and sunshine!” Don’t make things up!

posted by: Jones on January 28, 2011 1:36pm

Time for a new a mayor!

posted by: john on January 28, 2011 3:28pm

@seriously—get real
i agree that this storm was a real whopper, and that special circumstances allow special pleading. i do not agree that “the last few years have been fine” in terms of snow removal. it has been somewhat adequate and not systematic. the expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care” comes to mind. if they had done it right the first time(s)—including enforcing alternate-side parking throughout the city, it would have been at least somewhat easier to clear things now.

this isn’t whining, it’s trying to purse total quality control and better value for our tax dollars, thank you.

posted by: proterozoic on January 28, 2011 4:56pm

All I’ve got to say is: http://www.universalautotransport.com/car-shipping-blog/2011/01/new-haven-defeated-by-snow/

posted by: I live here on January 29, 2011 9:28am

Every dog has it day. I hope Johnny D’s is a snowy one. He can’t evn snow plow our city. So sick of this man, and telling me to be patient. And the latest plea was that residents help locate and dig out fire hydrants. Why is there no gps on hydrants, why is a city worker not designated to map out and have hydrants cleared of snow? DeStefano needs to have more liabilty for this monstrosity. I as a legal, registered citizen and tax payer of New Haven want answers. I want answers from the Mayor himself, not one of his henchmen. It is time for a change New Haven!!!

posted by: M Stahl on January 29, 2011 10:16am

Relax everyone the invisible snow plows will get to your street by June. And if you are unfortunate enough to live on a side road, plows are estimated no later than July 1. If your car is plowed in perhaps you can join the masses that have to walk down the middle of the road to the bus stop. Not to worry if you own an apartment building or business,rules will not be enforced in regards to cleaning your sidewalks. No sense of civic responsibility, no problem. Sarcasam intended.

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