Cleanup Controversy Heats Up As More Snow Coats Tri-State Area
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sanitation officials issued a snow alert as more snow fell across the Tri-State area Saturday.
On Friday, the Sanitation Department had its workers load up 365 salt spreaders, attach plows and prepare chains for Saturday's dusting.
National Weather Service meteorologists David Stark said the snow could fall heavily for a time but it's likely to be more of a coating, with up to 1 inch falling across the five boroughs. Temperatures are expected to hover around 30 to 32 degrees.
A snowstorm this week dumped up to 11 inches of snow on the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio has faced criticism for his handling of the city's response.
"The orders were given. The execution was not what it should have been," Mayor De Blasio said.
The mayor patiently answered query after query about the inadequate snow plow effort on the Upper East Side, CBS 2's Tony Aiello reported.
A pair of maps have been making the rounds on social media. One shows the Upper East Side blocks where the plows were no-shows. The other drives home the point that those were "red" neighborhoods that voted for De Blasio's Republican opponent.
If anyone sees a connection the mayor has insisted that there isn't one.
"They're just wrong. I've said that repeatedly and I'll keep saying it," he said.
The Upper East Side was not alone in its snow problems. The Hugenot section of Staten Island, another Republican stronghold, felt let down by the city after the storm.
Republican Councilman Vinny Ignizio said that residents were posting pictures of unacceptable street conditions on his Facebook page 36 hours after the storm ended. One man even posted a video of a snowboarder cruising down an unplowed street.
Ignizio does not believe that anything Nefarious was at play.
"I know Bill de Blasio and his character," Ignizio said, "He would not seek retribution for the way people voted."
Another City Council member sounded almost gleeful as he rubbed Upper East Side noses in the snow.
"The people on the Upper East Side quite frankly they, they're complainers. They're not used to this idea that we're going to share resources in New York City. So, they had streets that were passable but they weren't what I would call "lickable." They couldn't eat off the street. They said "Oy vey! There's a little bit of ice on the street!" Democrat David Greenfield of Brooklyn told AM 620 radio.
The mayor is awaiting a storm after-action report from the Sanitation Department. Some had said that a report will not be enough and have pressed the city council for a hearing.
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 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.)
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