VAN NEST, The Bronx (WABC) — It has been nearly one week since a major snowstorm blanketed the Tri-State Area. People are still digging out the mounds of snow that buried their cars and has now turned to ice.
Department of Sanitation Workers have been on 12-hour shifts for most of the last week – it is all-hands-on-deck in all neighborhoods. The cleanup continues, as do all the challenges for New Yorkers navigating the streets and sidewalks.
“If you’re really a New Yorker, you’re used to this,” said Van Nest resident Ramona Vella.
While New Yorkers are used to this, it has been a few years since we were looking at this much snow for a week. It is still clogging up the city’s precious real estate.
“El frio no para. Esta muy fuerte,” said Elvis.
Elvis says the cold just will not quit. And it is only going to get colder and harder to dig.
Alternate side parking is now suspended through Thursday. It is great news for people who do not want to deal with digging out, but it is not great for those who want clean parking lanes.
“I think they should keep alternate side. Put people on one side, clean one side and then switch it over and clean the other,” said Brianna Vella.
DSNY Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan says they will get there eventually.
“We don’t want to inconvenience people and make them move their cars if we are not going to get in those blocks and clear the snow,” Lojan said
For those who do have to dig out – he says to not shovel it into traffic.
“We understand, you know, people are frustrated and they’re trying to get their cars out. But we ask people to try to not do that just because it creates a hazardous condition,” Lojan adds.
The goal is to get it where it can be pushed and consolidated into a giant pile.
If you see a massive snow mountain in your neighborhood, it is a very good sign. It means the Sanitation Department will be scooping it up soon and carting it to the nearest snow melter. Those are spread out across the five boroughs. The melted snow is funneled to treatment centers so it is safer for the environment. 67 million pounds have been melted away so far – and counting.
Sunday’s even more extreme cold could create more challenges – raising the risk of water main breaks like the one that made a mess in Morrisania on Friday night.
“So I ask New Yorkers, please check in on your neighbors – especially older adults, New Yorkers with disabilities and those without reliable heat. This is one of the longest, most sustained cold stretches our city has endured in years, and it is showing no signs of abating.”
“I’m over it, I’m over it. I need summer ASAP,” added Brianna Vella.
One thing the sanitation commissioner told Eyewitness News is that they have had to issue more than 15 hundred summonses to property owners who have failed to clear sidewalks.
If your building or business is responsible for a section of sidewalk, you have to keep it clear and safe – right now, that means you need salt and sand to keep the ice from ruining anyone’s day.
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