Unshoveled sidewalks are a walker’s nightmare

Mayor Martin Walsh’s East Boston liaison Corinne Patraglia was at the Jeffries Point Neighborhood Council’s meeting Monday night to answer concerns regarding snow removal in the neighborhood.

The JPNA’s Facebook page was lit up days after last week’s snowstorm with pictures of properties that had not shoveled or left sheets of ice making hard to navigate slick sidewalks on streets like Sumner.

“I encourage residents to call the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500 if they see that someone hasn’t shoveled,” said Patraglia. “ISD will record the call and provide a tracking number so you can keep track on the progress of the issue.”

For years following major snow storms JPNA residents become keenly aware of who the absentee landlords in the neighborhood by simply looking at who did and didn’t shovel their sidewalks.

The Boston City ordinance requires all property owners to remove snow, slush, and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting their property within 3 hours of snowfall ending (or 3 hours from sunrise if snow falls overnight) as required by law.

Violators will be fined up to $200 for snow that is not removed. The ordinance states that the removal of snow, slush, and ice from the full paved width of the sidewalk and curb ramp should be a minimum path of 42 inches wide. Narrow paths encumber carriages and wheelchairs, and properly cleared pathways ensure flow and safety of pedestrian traffic.

Another problem JPNA residents complained about Monday night was nearly a week after the storm people are still using parking space savers.

Former Mayor Thomas Menino initiated a ban against saving parking spaces 48 hours after a snowstorm—a program that is being honored by Mayor Walsh.

Patraglia said Department of Public Works trucks could be out soon to begin removing chairs, cones and other debris used in Eastie to save parking spots throughout the neighborhood.

In a neighborhood that has lived by the rule–‘you shovel it, you own it’, the ban has long been criticized, especially when there is no break in the frigid temperatures for the rest of the week and snow piles remain making parking hard.

However, Patraglia and JPNA resident said there have been reports of vandalism after residents have moved someone else’s space saver and parked.

“Any acts of vandalism should be reported to the police,” said Patraglia.

Cutline,

An ice slicked Sumner Street days after the latest snowstorm. JPNA residents are complaining too many absentee landlords are not cleaning their properties after snowstorms making walking dangerous.

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