Councilman Says There Oughta Be A Snow Removal Law

To stretch an analogy beyond all reason, no two snowflakes are alike — and no two boroughs have the same cleanup needs after a blizzard like last week’s, says Brooklyn City Councilman Vincent Gentile.

“In March and December last year, Brooklyn saw two nasty snow storms. And Brooklynites were still digging their houses and their cars out long after cars were speeding up and down avenues in Manhattan,” Gentile said. “Boroughs see different snowfalls and different responses from the City; if a storm can hit the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens different, the City needs to abandon its one-size-fits-all approach.”

To that effect, Gentile is drafting a bill that would require the Transportation and Sanitation Departments to take a borough-by-borough approach to alternate-side parking suspension, parking meter suspension and garbage collection suspension.

“If Brooklyn gets fewer snow plows on its streets or we have a heavier snowfall, we deserve more time to recover,” he said. “It’s a shame that we’ve got to legislate common sense, but if this is the only way to make sure all boroughs are treated fairly, then so be it.”