The Blizzard Diaries:  The Politics of Snowplows

The fortunes of many DC mayors have come and gone with blizzards and the way they handled snow removal on residential streets.

During a big one in the 1990's, our then mayor was enjoying himself at the Superbowl.  And that (among other things) was his downfall.

Now, Adrian Fenty, our young and energetic leader, is facing a re-election very soon, and you'd think he'd learn from the mistakes of his predecessors. 

While I was in Hawaii during the December snow, it sounds like the Department of Public Works did a pretty decent job with the all-important snow removal.  But this time it's different.

OK, I'll give him a break for the difference between a 16 inch snow and a 20-something accumulation, but there is something that I'm annoying myself with. 

Mayor Fenty is my neighbor.  He lives around the corner from my house.

Between his house and the nearest big traffic artery, you can actually see pavement.  You can drive on it without risking your life.

But it's Tuesday, and my block has yet to see a snow plow!

Now, I always thought it would be good to live so close to the mayor, that in an effort to impress the guy the Department of Public Works would get to our streets right after the major arteries got cleared.  But not this time.

During Fenty's tenure, things have worked.  Our trash gets picked up.  Potholes get filled.  Even the test scores in the DC public schools are on the upswing. 

And I have to wonder: is it fair to hold a mayor responsible for the aftermath of such a force of nature?  Well, my guess is that he might find that life is not fair as his fund raising appeals go out to a constituency that will look at them and remember the blizzard of 2010 and how they couldn't leave home after five freakin' days!

And fair or not, it's going to be his fault.

But at least he wasn't at the Superbowl over a weekend when Washingtonians could not get to Superbowl parties!

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27 Comments on The Blizzard Diaries: The Politics of Snowplows

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

FEB
09
2010
514,555 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Just like any other government official, yep... he'll get the blame.  Unless he does something incredibly heroic and newsworthy like driving a snow plow while the cameras are around!  
12:58pm • #8
971,333 Points 102 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

You really get to know who your neighbors are in the snow. A couple of years ago I had the same thing happen where a snow plow came within 20 feet of my driveway. We found out the snow plow drivers parents lived next door =)
Have an incredible day, today,
Paul
1:51pm • #9
1,914,469 Points 386 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Susan, if he's on the old snow plow in front of cameras, and in front of my house, I'll be out there to cheer him on.

And, Paul, this is a pretty tightly knit block and that's one thing that is making it a bit easier.
2:13pm • #10
776,316 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Patricia, I wonder if you remember Michael Bilandic, Mayor of Chicago in 1979?  He had snow removal issues...in his defense...the season had so far dumped about 7 feet of the white stuff on Chicago.  Anyway, from O'Hare Airport with piles of luggage from stranded passengers as a backdrop, he pretty much denied there was a problem...Jane Byrne, relatively unknown ran against him and won playing mostly on his handling of snow removal.
3:12pm • #11
814,678 Points 164 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Pat, 5 days? Wow wow and wow. No excuse really. I live in a town with a population of more than 26,000 people, but.. we are the largest town area wise in CT at 64 square miles. There are back roads, main roads, dirt roads, all sorts of roads...

But they all get plowed! Some might have to wait, but 5 days? I think not!

The mayor here lives behind me. We are on a hill, elevation 1000 feet up, and I don't leave until we are plowed, not even with 4 wheel drive. Only one way to town, and it is straight down.

I feel for you. We are expecting a good storm tomorrow. Perhaps not as much as you got, but it will make for a difficult day as we have all hills here, windy roads, etc.
3:16pm • #12
905,602 Points 93 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat, you're a taxpayer and your elected officials are paid to work for and represent thier citizens. I hope they respond and get the city up and moving so you can get back to showing and selling homes.
3:29pm • #13
874,820 Points 154 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Well it's not what you know but who you know. One of my neighbors use to be on my Township board, we always got plowed sooner rather than later...she didn't run for re-election. Now guess what?
3:30pm • #14
312,108 Points 10 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router

Pat ---- WOW -- five days -- I feel for you -- you would think that your streets would have gotten plowed right after the mayor's.  Good Luck, my friend.

                                                                                   

4:08pm • #15
519,220 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I shudder to think how long we will all be trapped once we get the newly predicted snow fall.  I ventured out today briefly but the roads are a disaster so I headed back home.  Interestingly, my husband went to work yesterday and today and he said the roads in DC are better than the roads here in PG & Montogomery County.  It would, however, piss me off to be able to see clear roads and no one had paid attention to my block.  Hope you still have some of that wine.
4:40pm • #16
1,156,973 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hello Pat and I grew up with snowplows when I was younger and let me know when you get sick of all the snow and your coming to Vegas!

VB ;o)
5:54pm • #17
194,863 Points 8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Pat - the DC roads are better than Montgomery County - Stacey-Ann is absolutely right! For the first time in years mass ave in DC is better than Mass Ave in Montgomery County - Fenty is doing a much better job than Ike Leggett and I hope he gets re-elected.  You can have Ike Leggett - Yuck!!!
8:29pm • #18
1,914,469 Points 386 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Nick, 7 feet of snow?  Holy cow!  I'm starting to feel sort of like a whiner with two and then some.

Andrea, I think we are all part of the same weather system!  Hope you get just enough to have fun with.

And Bob, if they ever open the airports, I might take you up on your invitation!
8:35pm • #19
631,063 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat..Here it comes again...We are getting more snow!

Hannah
10:01pm • #20
569,437 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I bet if you call him he would be right over with a shovel and a film crew to help you shovel out.
10:30pm • #21
FEB
10
2010
601,529 Points 36 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

It's not good to make Patricia mad. Five days! You must be screaming. I cannot imagine being shut up for five day. Here's hoping that you see the snow plow today! I don't know what to say about the Mayor....I agree that you would think he would study the history of his predecessors!
5:46am • #22

Pat,

I lived in the area at the time Mayor Barry was caught using public servants to shovel him out. Big uproar but not the only one for Barry...

Hoping you get plowed very soon!
8:31am • #23
232,668 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Pat,

I feel for you. Only four hours south, but we only get the unusual snow fall like last week.  We are getting the edge of the snow this time, and it should be gone by the time it hits the street. 

It had not ocurred to me that this would be a mayor issue for a mayor!  Haha.

Tere
8:38am • #24
776,316 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Patricia, that 7 feet was over a period of a few weeks, if it was all at once I don't think any major city could deal with it.  Places like Lake Tahoe are used to getting a lot of snow...not DC.
4:56pm • #25
468,218 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Pat,

On February 10, 1969, (40 years ago today) New York City was hit with 15 inches of snow, the worst in 8 years. Mayor Lindsay was blamed.  The blizzard was dubbed "Lindsay Snowstorm" There was a political backlash. He lost the Republican primary but was still on the ballot on the NY Liberal ticket. He won reelection but was a weakend Mayor neither aligned with Democrats or Republicans.
10:42pm • #26
FEB
11
2010
296,366 Points 19 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I'm sorry; but it took what - 75 hours after the snow stopped before a snow plow came down my street?!   What about the insane idea of him opening up the schools on Monday?  It took what - 3 hours for him to back-peddle and close them?

At least this last snow this week; things seem MUCH better.  My street was already plowed this afternoon.
8:23pm • #27

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Patricia Kennedy

Washington, DC

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Pat Kennedy -- author of The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate -- gives you a look at life on the streets as a real estate broker in our nation's capital. And her blog is peppered with great advice combined with humor!


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