Mayor: Roads May Be Plowed By Wednesday Night … Maybe

Bloomberg Urges Patience, But Many Say The System Broke

December 28, 2010 11:51 PM

Here’s how things looked on Dec. 28, 2010, in Brooklyn. (Photo courtesy/Richard ‘Spoon’ McCallum)

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NEW YORK (CBS New York/AP) — On the day after the day after, New Yorkers were left wondering what happened. There are still many streets that haven’t seen a plow yet.

“I’m curious as to why none of this has been plowed yet,” one person told CBS 2′s Lou Young. “All the streets around here, very few have been plowed. One was half-plowed.”

“I think they get an F-minus,” said Arlene Buonintane of Queens Village. “I think they really screwed up because, you know, this is ridiculous. You still have ambulances that have to get out. You still have police and firefighters that have to get through and none of the side streets are plowed.”

Mobile 2 Team Reports from Dyker Heights

“This has never been like this. I think it’s because the Sanitation [Department] is short. I’m a retired sanitation worker and it has never been like this,” another resident said.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg blamed circumstance.

“We won’t get to everybody every time. We will make mistakes, but we have to continue plugging ahead. Yelling about it and complaining doesn’t help,” Bloomberg said. “I think you can expect another 24 hours before we will get to everyone and even then I’m not so sure.”

The mayor said 2,700 city plows manned by a reduced Department of Sanitation workforce were all at work Tuesday night, supplemented by other City departments. Young saw a privately contracted plow with a Parks Department worker riding shotgun.

1010 WINS’ Stan Brooks reports

WCBS 880′s Ginny Kosola on unplowed Queens streets

PHOTO GALLERIES: Blizzard Slams East Coast | User-Submitted Storm Photos

1010 WINS’ Juliet Papa reports

SOUND OFF: Is Your Road Plowed?

The City said it needs more private plows, front loaders and tow trucks. Ambulances have been getting stuck trying to do their work.

“Too many ambulances went down blocked streets, for example,” Bloomberg said. “What they should’ve done was stay at the corner of the main street and then walked down or struggled through the snow to get down, because once the ambulance got in it couldn’t get out.”

Young witnessed one ambulance doing precisely what the mayor wanted. It stopped on a main street so that EMTs could walk down snow-covered side street to assist someone. But in the process their ambulance blocked traffic, including a snow plow.

Outerborough Outrage

The stuck plow driver was clearly frustrated.

“It’s hard. We’re stuck in traffic because people don’t stay home,” he said. “People driving around, getting stuck in the middle of the street. We can’t get down the streets. It’s impossible.”

If you’re not buying this, neither are the folks at the NYC Council or in the borough presidents’ offices. Marty Markowitz was nearly apoplectic over the condition of his Brooklyn borough’s streets.

“We’ve had previous bad snowstorms and the Sanitation Department did an excellent job. Something didn’t happen this time,” Markowitz said.

Residents React to City’s Storm Response

The City Office of Emergency Management, which is normally empty, was activated around 4 p.m. on Sunday when the storm started to settle in. There’s even a stuck ambulance task force that’s been at it since Monday trying to make sense of the mess.

But angry NYC Council members said they think there’s more that needs to be looked into than stuck ambulances. Hearings have been scheduled for Jan. 10.

“I believe we can do better. We expect better. I know we can do better. We did better in February when we had a storm and that was much worse. And so I know this was a bad storm, but the reality is we’ve done it in the past and we should have done it in the last 48 hours but we failed,” said Councilwoman Leticia James, D-Queens.

City Councilman Daniel Dromm shook his head and came short of stamping his feet on two feet of unplowed snow on 75th Street in Jackson Heights, Queens.

“The fact that there has been no plow in this neighborhood at all is a disaster,” Dromm said. “It’s hard to understand why the city was so unprepared for this storm because we knew for a long time that it was coming.”

“This is going on day three and usually what we see is a plow coming down the street on the day when the storm starts, then you see something coming the day after and basically the third day you expect it to be clear but that’s not what happened here,” he added.

WCBS 880′s Ginny Kosola on outrage over NYC’s response to the blizzard

Some are putting the blame on Bloomberg. “He is not doing what he is supposed to do,” one woman said. ”He’s not running the city, we’re wondering what is happening.”

“I think the Mayor must be living in another world if he thinks that the response to this has been satisfactory,” Dromm said.

However, Bloomberg said he understands the hardships the public has faced in the last few days.

“I’m angry too, if your street was plowed the response was adequate, if your street was not plowed the response was inadequate,” Bloomberg said. ”We can not do everything all the time and we are doing the best we can.”

CBS 2’s Dave Carlin rode along with plow operators and sanitation supervisors on Tuesday night during their 12-hour shifts.

Residents on unplowed side streets seemed openly hostile.

Carlin asked the operator if he understands the criticism.

“I understand it. I heard it. Unfortunately, it was one of those storms that are one in a million. The sheer volume and the speed it came down and the winds did not help at all,” the operator said.

(TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Mayor: Roads May Be Plowed By Wednesday Night ... Maybe

Dennis

The Sanitation Dept. is the biggest racket. I happen to know for a fact that even on a normal day, the Sanitation Dept., in many cases, doesn’t work even close to an 8 hour day. They could be finished in 3 hours and spend the rest of the shift in the garage, watching TV, playing cards or sleeping. What a ripoff!

Dennis

Oh, and by the way, after this great street cleaning service we’re getting here, does anyone know when trash is going to be picked up again? Oh, I forgot, the garbage trucks won’t be able to get iinto my block until we have snow removal.

DP

AMEN! you speak the truth & nothing but the truth

THERESA C

Why isn’t anyone talking about the real reason why the strrets haven’t been cleaned? It’s because the Sanitation Department is conducting a SLOW-DOWN because of all the talks about demotions and lay-offs! We had more snow in February and didn’t have any problems cleaning the streets.

The Truth

If that is the case then fire everyone and start the hiring process over. In this job market you will find more people able and willing to work a full 8 hours and not whine. Switch all the UNIONS to a 401K plan then NY can hire many more and do away the NYPD and the FDNY welfare pensions. Teachers too.

FDNY Medic

Truth, I agree with you 100% with Sanitation but since FDNY doesn’t have snow plows or snow tires, it was the Bloomberg Administration and Sanitations job to make sure that the roads were at least passable for ambulances heading to emergencies and I mean real emergencies, not people calling for a freaking headache, fever, cough, and stomach ache.

and Truth, it sounds like you work in the private sector and your own 401k is in the toilet. EMS pensions are no where near firefighter, sanitation and pd pensions

Jessica

The streets of Whitestone are AWFUL!!!!! I would really like to know when the streets will be plowed. I pay so much taxes here and receive NO services. Manhattan is not the only borough of NYC. The last time I checked Queens is also part of NYC. It’s true- NEast Queens really doesn’t benefit of any services. What a shame!!!

Rachael

Your right. There are no buses running at least not in Red Hook. Was out at 5am this morning until 6:23 no buses. Have been waiting at my door to see if a bus comes by, but to no avail. Haven’t seen a bus down in Red Hook since Sunday. Nothing on the website from MTA or CBS News and its now 10:32am. Did they forget Brooklyn.
The Truth

Funny but there is a Sanitation depot in College Point. Off with Mikes Head. He must have diverted most to Manhattan to get ready for New Years Eve. This guy should be tarred and feather. Sanitation Dept needs to fired if they started a work slowdown. Hire good people who will work the full 8 hours and not whine.

Jane

LOL – that made me smile after my 3 hour commute this morning,
becky

Tried calling 311 to report the fact that my block and my neighborhood of Whitestone like the mayor said. You can wait for hours. No one answers the phone. We have not seen a plow or salt spreader. There has been no mail since the psot office can’t even get through. Reminds me of Mayor Lindsay. Mayor Bloomberg should stop hiding in Manhattan and see what is going on in the outer boros. The services provided in NE Queens are awful.

Phil

I did the same. I called 311 like 12 times and after going through all the menu options, I was put on hold forever. I went to the 311 online and submitted a complain. I never seen this in NY before. 24 hours after the snow precipitation stopped still all local streets in are blocked.Is New York Manhattan only ?? what a shame

The Truth

Off with Mike’s head. Wall St Executives line them up and use one sht. Pension cost too are destroying this City and Nation. See Greece, Ireland to begin with. Some US Cities already trying to go into bankruptcy.
Dennis

It’s now Tuesday, Dec. 28, 9:20 a.m., does anyone where the plows and salt spreaders are for Whitestone. What a disgrace! Nothing caqn get through these blocks still.. No mal delivery, no nothing. Well, I guess we should all follow the adviice of our Mayor, go out and see a Broadway Show. Yeah, sure.
patricia

WThe town of hempstead has not sent a plough on many side streets in elmont!The main roads have been somewhat ploughed, but who do we get to them if the side streets are unpassable. So much taxes for nothing in Elmont. What’s the town supervisor doing. I don’t get paid unless I go in to work- my job does not give snow days. we need to have the side roads cleared here in elmont
DavidInBrooklyn

To all the idiots who voted for hizzoner and all the fools who vote for politicians that cut middle class taxes by pennies and billionaire taxes by millions: enjoy the snow. This is what you get when the little people hand over power to the very rich.
J

Hey, Mayor Bloomberg, I’m sure you’r street has been plowed, as well as the street where the mosque is to be built.

Alice

Not only that,try and send an email to 311. It won’t go through and you can ‘t get through to 311 by phone either! So much for citiziens’ hotlines.

life is good

This is Mayor Bloomberg’s version of “Let them eat cake” … Poor little rich kid just plain out of touch. Middle class people are suffering and in some cases dying and he suggests that folks come out and travel to a Broadway show? I hope the media doesn’t let the $800 million City Time scandal slip away … maybe some of that swindled (under Bloomy’s nose) money could have been used to beef up the public safety agencies staffing during the storm. At least Bloomberg got John Lindsay off the hook from the 1969 blizzard.
wsticky

Only small guys pay taxes, according to the rich. You only have responsibilities, not rights. You want services, be a part of Bloomy’s community (sorry Italians, Irish, Blacks, Asians, Polish, Russians and others, you are not part his community), friends (sorry guys, you are too poor to be his friends).
Alice

48 hours into this mess and our street in Gravesend, Brooklyn has not been plowed even once. This is disgusting, a travesty and reminds us of Mayor Lindsay’s strom “cleanup” in the ’60s. Shame on you, Mayor Bloomberg.
Marlene

WHAT ABOUT STATEN ISLAND.? I PAY TAXES JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS CITY- BIUT VERY LITTLE SERVICE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS? WHY DON’T THEY INVESTIGATE THIS!!!!!!!
IT’S JUST HORRIBLE WE “ARE” THE FORGOTTEN BORO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

riri

get a grip Marlene,most of SI has been plowed.

Mr Liberal, no trains to get into the city to see a show.

Fed Up

Most of SI plowed? Certainly not by the Sanitation Department! Rather by neighbors who get together and plow themselves out! Time to cut our ties to this bloated NYC bureaucracy with labor unions who have feathered their own beds on the backs of taxpayers – 20 and out at 3/4 pay and benefits, can’t fire inept teachers that suck up valuable resources, where does it end?.

Arlene

I live by the Staten Island Mall and no streets here have been plowed yet. I saw 4 sanitation plow trucks just sitting on RIchmond Avenue not being used.
It is a disgrace.

riri

Why is CBS so worried about Ozone park. CBS posted on other weather boards asking people who live in Ozone Park to contact them.
Don’t we count also CBS.
john

It doesn’t help that he is not allowing sant workers to do overtime. When one shaft is done they go home, can’t work overtime like in the past.
Frank White

No way to get to work in Manhattan from Mill Basin, Brooklyn. There are no express or local buses running, and even if the local was running to the train station, the Q train is not running. So I will miss a days pay today as I have no vacation time left with only 3 days left in the year. This is an absolute disgrace, the outer boroughs exist too Bloomberg.

KAS

I agree with Frank White, no way to get to work from Rockaway, no B, Q or buses to anywhere-lose a few days pay, no one cares

riri

All Mr Mayor cares about is clearing out Times Square.

I’m a single parent and I need to get to work on mass trans but also need my car to get my child to day care.

Is Bloomberg going to pay me the money I lose because he droped the ball on clean up.
Jose

Mayor threatens to fine homeowners who do not clean their sidewalks but how about us fining the mayor for now plowing our streets. Other states must laugh at how poorly we handle 15-20 inches of snow. Mayor you get a F in performance.

A & J

Well said, Jose. Fat chance, though, of the Mayor acknowledging his mismanagement. The buck stops at the Mayor’s doorstep. The Sanit Commissioner Dougherty talks a good game, blames homeowners for shoveling snow in to the streets. Where do these birdbrains want us to shovel the snow if the sidewalks have to be cleared??

the bandid

our fearless leader dont care about nothing outside of manhattan, the hell with everybody else, let the little people keep paying taxes and fines, his rich friends dont have to worry they all live in manhattan.
Michael H.

Dept of Sanitation, the MTA and the Mayor’s Office need to get their act together and quit making excuses for a lackluster response to this blizzard. My secondary street still has yet to see a plow. We just waited an hour on the corner of Nostrand and U waiting for a bus, ANY bus, to take us to one of the running trains. Nothing showed. MTA supervisors rode by in their warm and comfy SUVs, not even bothering to stop and tell us whether to keep waiting or just go home.

How long do we have to wait, Mr. Mayor?
Frustraded

It’s really funny. Mayor Bloomberg announces that the city will be giving out fines if we don’t clear our sidewalks. Should we fine the cIty FOR not cleaning our streets? last I checked, my taxes are fully paid, and I am sure many other people’s taxes were paid. Brooklyn has barely been plowed, and Blomberg has the audacity to tell us to have patience? he should admit he blundered and then getvto work.

lulu

Or how about they start fining businesses like Verizon who have the corner of 16th Avenue and 72nd Street in Brooklyn, but couldn’t be bothered to shovel anything. People had to walk in the street or over the mound of snow to get to the train station.

Sanman

It’s ashamed, no doubt we are understaffed, uncoordinated and just plain old unfair. I have to walk an hr to catch a ride into manhattan and then clean up and plow streets, when the dept does. Not care about any other neighborhood but high profile, big money making spots. I’m embarrassed to say those 2 men are my coworkers but I dont know the whole story. They might have been rookies, or unqualified operators of those pieces of equipment. You all in Brooklyn heights and manhattan should have some some reserve as to be so quick to call us ny’s dumbest. Walk in our shoes, deal with our foremen, our chiefs and our commissioner and not to mention our mayor and deputy mayor.

FDNY Medic

Sanman, your collegues picked the worst time to pull a job action to get a point across the Mayor’s office. Half to the city’s ambulances were stuck in the snow because of unplowed streets. People who really needed ambulances didn’t get them and died. People who really didn’t need 911 called for bs like headaches, toothaches and stomach pain, which resulted in ambulances getting stuck on unplowed streets for hours. There was one FDNY EMS station that they got snowed in, ambulances units at the station couldn’t get out and ambulances that needed to get insided couldn’t get in. Sanitation and the Bloomberg Administration should be ashamed.

FDNY Medic

and some of my collegues caught Sanitation guys sleeping while streets remained unplowed……smh
Maalox

Sorry but Unions only have this as their motto:
PAY ME or I don’t work and when you do pay me I don’t have to work. You can’t fire us.
All I can think about is Good Fellas
You need your street plowed? FU pay me
You want me to do my job? FU pay me
You actually want me to earn my bloated salary? FU pay me

Vicki Dansereau

All lines tie to my neighborhood. The N,R, B,D,Q, F. Can’t at least one line, with the section that is open be cleared? That is a lot of lines, and a lot of commuters. At least clear one line, and the public will find a way to continue the commute. Meet us half way here.
Leticia

I live in Midwood Bklyn the Q/B trains are not running. The streets look treacherous and I need to get to work in LIC. Officials say be patient, its hard when I lose pay every hour I’m stuck in the house. I see the streets are clear in Manhattan, can we get some help in Brooklyn, I pay NYC taxes too.

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Mayor: Roads May Be Plowed By Wednesday Night … Maybe

Bloomberg Urges Patience, But Many Say The System Broke

December 28, 2010 11:51 PM

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