Tuesday's winter storm didn't deliver the 20 inches of snow forecast, but it did clog New York City streets with hazardous piles of the white stuff.
Commuters returning to work Wednesday morning griped about the hassle of traveling under less-than-ideal conditions. Their tweets, pictures and videos showed blocked crosswalks and concerns over safety ... and their cute shoes.
Just got to climb over this small mound of snow to get across street. pic.twitter.com/aW9IqvEMeA
— New York CSC (@nyceltic) March 15, 2017
You can't be a modern city while prioritizing cars over walking and also I don't like stepping in 6 inch slush with my cute shoes.
— elliot (@elliot_friar) March 15, 2017
.@NYCMayor .@DanGarodnick .@DNAinfoNY How do elderly & disabled deal w. this? All ice & no way to board bus. Crossings need to be cleared pic.twitter.com/KYz3RSMGwi
— Kyle Athayde (@kyle_athayde) March 15, 2017
But the NYC departments of transportation and sanitation says they're on it.
The DOT has called for paid emergency snow laborers to help remove snow from crosswalks, bus stops and step streets. (If the $15-an-hour wage sounds enticing, here's how to sign up.)
The NYC Department of Sanitation has already hired 557 laborers to shovel crosswalks, bus stops and fire hydrants, an agency spokesperson said in an email. And it's registering thousands more.
All 6,300 miles of city streets were plowed and salted Tuesday, the spokesperson said.
There were 530 plows and 644 salt spreaders still working on widening paths and salting icy patches Wednesday, according to the DSNY representative.
Good morning from the aftermath of the storm. Now it's all about navigating the snow and ice street corners. 💀❄️☘ pic.twitter.com/rIKoW3gZe9
— New York CSC (@nyceltic) March 15, 2017
As for all those icy sidewalks that New Yorkers are complaining about, those are the responsibility of private property owners. You can, however, file complaints for a specific address via 311.
If sidewalks aren't shoveled today, owners can be subject to fines of up to $350.