NORTH CENTER — Having fielded hundreds of complaints from residents about the city's snow plowing efforts during last week's cold snap, Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) will host a special Ward Night 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight to discuss the issue.
"I understand how frustrating this week has been," the alderman wrote to constituents in his weekly newsletter. "We want to hear from you and will stay in the office until every person has an opportunity to meet with me in person."
Chicagoans largely understood the challenges facing Streets and Sanitation crews during last Monday and Tuesday's arctic blast. But by Wednesday and Thursday, many had lost patience with the amount of snow remaining on side streets.
In his newsletter, Pawar explained in great detail the conditions — most importantly a "base layer of snow turned to ice" — that exacerbated the situation on side streets: "Even though City plow trucks made multiple passes down our side streets with salt, the center ridges of snow could not start to break down until temperatures got warmer on Thursday. This is why side streets across the City of Chicago may not look plowed and the arterial streets were plowed down to the asphalt."
In addition, a number of plows and salt spreaders broke down in the sub-zero temperatures, he said.
"I know many are still skeptical of the snow plow situation even after providing this explanation," Pawar said, hence the special Ward Night.
The alderman will meet with constituents at the 47th Ward Office, 4243 N. Lincoln Ave.
