| Page 2 of 2 < |
With Abundance of Slush, Criticism of Cleanup Effort
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Tangherlini and Moneme gave conflicting accounts of the city's strategy. Moneme said he told crews to switch from salting to plowing around 4 a.m., just after the heavier flakes began to fall; Tangherlini said most workers were asked to delay plowing until the storm ended, after 6 a.m.
The idea, Tangherlini said, was to give the salt a chance to do its work. If plowing began immediately, the city risked removing the salt with the first layer of snow and allowing subsequent snow and rain to freeze, making streets slick and dangerous.
"You only get one shot at this stuff," said Tangherlini, who spent most of yesterday in closed budget meetings. "A better decision might have been made public-relations wise, but technically and long term, the right moves were made."
Tell that to John Kelly, shoveling his stoop around 10 a.m. on S Street NW, near 18th Street in Dupont Circle.
"They probably won't get here until April," he said sarcastically.
Meanwhile, Metro reported several buses getting stuck near Farragut Square, in Mount Pleasant and Adams Morgan, even near Fenty's home in Crestwood.
Many of the city's streets appeared partially cleared by midday, with slush building up on the sides. Officials had opted not to declare a snow emergency, which would have forced cars to park off the street and given crews a clearer shot.
Not everyone was unhappy with the city's performance. Council members said they received few complaints. And Jamila Johnson, 31, who was walking her sons Cameron, 6, and Jordan, 11, back to their home at 11th and O streets NW, said the city satisfied her expectations.
"The streets are really good," she said, "but some of the side streets are still a mess."
