[bscb-l] shoveling snow

[Alison]

The BSCB resolution as it stands right now does specifically call for a particular approach to sidewalk snow removal: namely, it calls for this let's-blame-the-homeowners thing.  I say, how about we re-word the resolution to call on cities and towns to find ways to keep the sidewalks clear within 24 hours after winter storms, period.  Let's at least allow cities and towns to come up with better solutions than this blame-the-homeowners idea--better solutions might actually happen in a few cities and towns as long as we don't paint everyone into a corner with this one specific idea of punishing homeowners--an idea that doesn't result in uniformly clear sidewalks, only extra red tape and resentment.  On the other hand, imposing huge fines on cities and towns for allowing snowplows to dump snow on sidewalks would be a much better first step, because it would be enforceable and it would make a big difference (and it would probably be quite popular with the general public, unlike the idea we're proposing).  All the arguments I'm seeing on this list for the blame-the-homeowners idea seem to stem from the attitude that sighted people who drive cars are "lazy" and they all think people who walk on sidewalks are "losers" (these are your actual words, folks)--obviously that kind of resentment isn't very constructive if we're trying to find a good solution to this problem.  Let's try to be problem-solvers here, not just angry haters.  If we encourage creative solutions to this problem, like Bob's suggestion of having Boy Scouts, etc. do it for cities and towns as part of their public service projects, or some of Alice's various suggestions, then we will come out much better in the end, with nice clear sidewalks and happy neighbors.

--Alison

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Hachey" <bhachey at comcast.net>
To: "Bay state (Massachusetts) discussion list" <bscb-l at acb.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 8:33:30 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [bscb-l] shoveling snow



Hi alice, 
Agreed on all points here. Still, if we're going to ask homeowners to shovel, then we really need to be careful to create policies that assist elders and PWD to keep their sidewalks clear. 
How's this for a compromise. Firstly, in the long run, I'd like to see municipalities take on this task, but that ain't happenin any time soon. In the short run, we require homeowners to shovel, but put those who are unable to either do it themselves or pay to have it done in a special category whereby they get some sort of assistance. Since so many young people today are not in good shape, how about we get high school kids to shovel for neighbors and pay them something like $10.00 per hour? Alternatively, we could get groups like the boy and girl scouts to do service projects. They could even earn comunity service merrit badges for such work. 
I'm not sure how much if any we want to change the wording in the resolution since that could paint us into a corner. the goal of the resolution is to develop policies whereby sidewalks are cleared, not to be divisive by forcing those who are not able to shovel snow or get fined. I realize this means monitoring and probably some paperwork. 
This has been an excellent discussion! 
Bob Hachye 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: alice dampman Humel 
To: bscb-l at acb.org 
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 6:03 PM 
Subject: [bscb-l] shoveling snow 


While I, too, would rather see the city come through and clear the sidewalks, I still say that the main reason that people do not shovel their sidewalks is that they are too lazy, and they don't care about the "losers" that have to walk to the bus. It's not that they aren't able to clear the sidewalk, they just don't give a damn. 
    Of course, there are people who can't shovel. But that's not the majority. 
    I have such people right around the corner from me. It's a two-family house, and I don't know who lives in the other half. But the homeowner lives in one half, and while he's not the youngest guy, he's no older than I am, and he's not disabled, and he has a perfectly able-bodied young son. They never shovel their sidewalk, even though they have a blind person in the neighborhood who walks past that house every day. And, they *always* shovel their driveway, and they are one of these that pile all that snow from the driveway right in the middle of the sidewalk. I've often fantasized about carrying a snow shovel with me, and when I find one of those mounds, stopping and shoveling the whole mound right back in the middle of the driveway, preferably behind their car parked in that nice clear driveway!! 
    I had another neighbor with whom it was the same story. She was able-bodied enough to go to the gym and work out, but she could never rake leaves on her property or shovel snow. And, she also had a 25 year old big strapping son living at home, but Sonny Boy could not be expected to do such demeaning labor , after all. 
    Sorry, but it's far more often attitude than it is disability that keeps people from shoveling. 
Alice   
alicedh at verizon.net 




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