Snow emergency

[easy-wind.livejournal.com]

If you are as outraged as me about the City of Somerville handing out $50 parking tickets for violating a snow emergency when... THERE WASN'T A FLAKE OF SNOW ON THE GROUND, I encourage you to write to Mayor Curtatone to express your views:

JCurtatone@ci.somerville.ma.us

Comments

the new snow emergency policy

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

...can be found here, as someone posted last night: http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us/whatsnew/view_item.asp?id=479

The text, for those who aren't in the mood to follow the link:

City of Somerville Snow Emergency Plan
Please be advised of a new snow emergency plan effective immediately. It is every resident’s responsibility to know when a
snow emergency is declared and when it has been lifted. You may find this information on the local television and radio channels, as well as 15 and 16, and Somerville Community Access Television. The following policy will be strictly enforced during a declared
snow emergency:

• A snow emergency may be declared whenever 4 or more inches are predicted to fall. It will be called 6 hours before a storm is predicted to begin.
• Somerville police will announce from their vehicles that residents have 4 hours to move their cars to the odd side of the street. Parking on the even side of the street during a snow emergency is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise posted.
• Towing will commence IMMEDIATELY after the 4-hour period has elapsed.
• Plowing will begin after 2 inches of snow has fallen. Main roads, cross town streets, bus routes, and “hospital hills” will
be done first. The intent of the city is to plow wherever possible, up to the curb.
• If you do not have access to off-street parking, residents may use the following locations during a snow emergency.

Schools:
• Ward 1 East Somerville Community School and Michael E. Capuano School
• Ward 2 Lincoln Park Community School
• Ward 3 Cummings School
• Ward 4 Healey School
• Ward 5 Brown School and Kennedy School
• Ward 6 Powder House Community School
• Ward 7 West Somerville Neighborhood School

Municipal Buildings and Lots:
• City Hall Concourse
• Central Library
• West Branch Library
• (All Municipal metered parking lots)

After the snow emergency has been lifted, your vehicle must be removed from the above locations within two hours. Vehicles are subject to towing after that time period.

*The intent of this severe snow policy is not to create inconvenience for Somerville residents, but rather to ensure traffic runs smoothly and safety precautions are in place across the city in the event of a snowstorm. The city is confident this plan will ultimately result in residents receiving better government services in the event of a snowstorm. Thank you for your
cooperation."

Re: the new snow emergency policy

[easy-wind.livejournal.com]

Translation:

It's all about the money.

Re: the new snow emergency policy

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. *sigh* I personally think that declaring a snow emergency starting with a prediction of only 4 inches is overkill. I mean, hello, this is New England. We're supposed to be able to deal with 4 freaking inches of snow.

I also think that if they ticket or tow you because of a storm that's supposedly coming 6 hours from the time of the announcement, but it never actually snows (or hardly snows at all), they should waive the fee, or at least cut it in half.

The other thing that gets me about the costs of various types of tickets in Somerville is that they're even more expensive than the same types of parking infractions in Cambridge! I like Somerville, but it's not all that, y'know? There is no good reason that a parking infraction that would cost me $15 in Cambridge should cost me $25 or $30 in Somerville.

Re: the new snow emergency policy

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

The only thing that really annoyed me is that I live down an alleyway but park on the nearest street. The police sure as hell don't drive down the alley to announce the snow emergency and the nearest street is too far away to hear the announcement.

Re: the new snow emergency policy

[ex-meta.livejournal.com]

I personally don't give a rat's ass about the convenience of car drivers, but I agree that describing 4" of snow over the course of a day as an "emergency" is ridiculous.

Re: the new snow emergency policy

[herr-burren.livejournal.com]

Over the past year, Somerville has taken a harder line against parking infractions. Maybe they need the money. Maybe like the state with the Mass. Pike, they have gotten so used to the cash flow they can't cut back on ticketing without affecting the city budget. They are more likely to tow for street cleaner violations, its seems I've gotten more tickets, and now this bullsh*t about the snow emergency.

Do the powers that be realize the population density here is among the highest in the nation? For Christ's sake have a little compassion. Curtatone entered office running, cutting back on personal use of city vehicles, collecting city cell phones. He is a hard ass who likes to make headlines. Well now he's made the Globe. For being a jerk off. Maybe next time he'll learn there is a place in local government for moderation and compassion.

On a personal note, the streetcleaners don't exactly make the streets all that clean. I think once a month (except in the case of, say, a ticker tape parade) would be more than enough.