Dear Pedestrians...

[larsks.livejournal.com]

I have tried to keep my sidewalk clear for your comfort and safety -- and my own! But despite my best efforts, the City of Somerville has repeatedly, in the space of an hour, refilled my sidewalk with the snowplow. I tried to complain, but the city doesn't seem terribly interested. My arms are tired, my back is tired, and I give up fighting the City. They apparently don't consider pedestrian safety to be a terribly high priority.

If you have also run into this problem, I encourage you to contact the Mayor's office at mayor@ci.somerville.ma.us as well as your local alderperson. You may also want to contact the Comissioner of the Department of Public Works, Stanley Koty, but my previous experience with DPW suggests this won't help.

Comments

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

My half assed clacyoolations yesterday at lunch said this about snow removal and budgets:
Somerville has allocatated 300K for snow removal according to their FY07 budget on the city website.

According to the MA Highway Dept.'s FY07 rental rates for snow removal equipment (used the lowest rate, btw), the cost of diesel fuel to run said equipment and a low-ball estimate of pay...

To run a skeleton crew of 4 3/4 ton pickup trucks and two small front loaders for 12 hours of clearing (1300 - 0100 or, about the time the snow started to the time it stopped), without laying salt, it would cost the city approx. 18,300. I also figured in the amount of fuel all of the equipment on my imaginary crew burned.

I will resolve the budget bt: raising property taxes (according to the FY06 budget audit, that was the primary source of Somerville's income last year) to purchase bobcats to clear the sidewalks...but they will go up by 30% with no other allocation for that money BUT snow removal of the sidewalks.

I can be mayorz nao plz? I has problem solved. Problem solved. I has.

[komos.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm concerned, you can has el Presidente if you want it. ^_^

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Nah. I'd prefer "Dictator for Life" a la Calvin and Hobbes. If I can't have that, I'm out.