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Monday, January 20, 2020

City Doesn't Shovel Its Sidewalks





PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY -- 1/20/20

Some pedestrians had to walk in the street due to unshoveled sidewalks this morning. Sidewalks offer safer passage for pedestrians over streets.

The sidewalks not shoveled were adjacent to city property, Trinity Park and the parking lot on the corner of Margaret and Court streets.

Under city regulations it is stated:

295-40 Duty to remove ice and snow.
It shall be the duty of the owner of a developed or vacant lot that adjoins a public sidewalk to remove or clear snow and ice from such public sidewalk within 24 hours after the end of a snow or ice event, as publicly declared by a designated City official. Except as provided herein, the entire width of the sidewalk shall be cleared, edge to edge, creating conditions that allow safe pedestrian travel and preventing any accumulation of ice and/or snow, or impenetrable ice/snow that is not treated to prevent slipping.

Usually the city sends out a notice about the end of a storm but I didn't see any. Even then most businesses have shoveled their sidewalks bare so why can't the city do the same?





One could say today is a holiday and that gives the city an excuse. Really. Check the photo of the Court Street sidewalk adjacent to Clinton County property: the whole stretch is completely clear while directly across the street snow and ice covers the city sidewalk.


Once again Plattsburgh City leads by example.



ADDENDUM:

More unshoveled sidewalks seen this afternoon: City Hall, Verdantique Park, and Smith-Weed Bridge.

If you're young and healthy no problem trudging through.  A senior citizen with limited mobility?  Tough.



For a real obstacle course check out Smith-Weed Bridge.  A passing city snowplow has clogged the sidewalks but without any shoveling to fix the problem.


Having a heart attack while shoveling snow is bad enough but how about having one while slogging through on a sidewalk piled over two feet deep with the white crap?

8 comments:

  1. Can we give them a $50 fine?

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  2. That's ridiculous. They would quick to fine residents of we did this type of stuff though.

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  3. Good one!! It's been a complete boondoggle this past weekend!

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  4. The bike path doesn't even get plowed. I live down by pine harbor and we have no choice but to walk in the road. It's scary too because big trucks use that road.

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  5. Anonymous9:53 AM

    Agree city should be shoveling the sidewalk if not should be penalized for it

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  6. Anonymous9:54 AM

    I agree they should be taken care of there steets they make elderly shovel if they have side walk in front home why not them all because they are city they should be penalized

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  7. Anonymous10:52 AM

    The sidewalks on Battery Street are not done either,not shoveled or salted, and not the ones in front of property owners. Yet the city has the nerve to send me a registered letter for ice being on my sidewalk. I work 12 hours a day and come home after dark. I have a small patch of sidewalk in front of my house not even 10 feet. I shoveled, sanded and salted that weekend when I was home during daylight hours.

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  8. The South Catherine St bridge was not cleared, as well as the Bridge St and Broad St bridges. Also, the entire stretch on US Ave outside the old base was not cleared. This makes for extremely difficult passage, either walking in the street or walking on uneven snow. This is unacceptable. I really don’t care if it was a holiday, they knew the storm was happening and therefore should’ve planned accordingly.

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