New York City’s snow removal efforts unsatisfactory

By: Natasha Waldron Anthony

Several residents, primarily Guyanese, of Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and South Ozone Park have aired their dissatisfaction on Tuesday at the limited removal, and in some instances non-removal, of snow in their community following a snowstorm which hit the New York area last Sunday, December 26. 

Even though the main roadways, including Liberty and Jamaica Avenues, have been cleared, several cross and side streets in the community have not been plowed, and this makes it difficult for residents to commute. 

President of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council, Vishnu Mahadeo, told this publication he is concerned at the city’s lack of readiness to address the issue. 

“There is the issue of the lack of service that our community is facing, so it’s a double-effect. What has happened (is that) we monitor the service to our community by watching what happens on Liberty Avenue, because it is an indication of what is happening in Richmond Hill,” he said. “(Of) These 40 blocks, only two streets have been cleared: Lefferts and 111th, no other side street. We are very concerned about this, because it affects the very fabric of life, our community…It affects our business, our functionality. People are unable to move, the subway and bus stops are still full of snow, and it is affecting our commerce, our livelihood. So it has just been shut down, it affects every aspect of society.” 

Mahadeo said that the elderly residents in the community have no mobility and are locked in. He is hopeful the snow melts before New Year. “Our taxes now mean nothing, and Mother Nature will have to come to our rescue.” 

The Richmond Hill EDC had notified some 500 business owners and residents to document the actual time the Department of Sanitation visited and cleared their streets. The EDC plans to raise this issue with elected leaders and with the service providers’ commissioners. 

Meanwhile, Guyana Times International spoke with Dr. Taj Rajkumar, the New York State Assembly District 31 District Leader, who expressed extreme disappointment that various areas have not yet been plowed. However, he says that he understands the position of the city, and he insists that residents should have remained home upon knowing the storm was coming. He noted that some level of normalcy has been returned, as businesses are open and people are able to move around. 

He applauded the efforts of the communities that came together to clean driveways and sidewalks. But for some residents, the clearing efforts are somewhat frustrating the process, as people are piling snow onto the roads from their driveways. Consequently, vehicles traversing those roads are then stuck. 

Other areas severely affected and seem neglected include Brooklyn and the Bronx. 

In the meantime, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn called the city’s snow-clearing efforts “unacceptable”, and said the council will hold hearings, starting on January 10. 

This is New York’s sixth-largest snow storm ever.