Once Upon A Time

There was a time not too long ago -- at least on Warren Street -- when one or two DPW workers with shovels and ice choppers would push all the snow accumulated on the curb into the street ahead of the DPW plows and the enormous snow thrower taking away the snow already in the street.  I saw it happen on more than one occasion several years ago.  Sure, it's more effort, you need the manpower, it can be difficult if the snow has hardened to ice, and it does slow down the street clearing process a bit, but it sure makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons, doesn't it?  For one, allowing people easy and safe access to both sides of their vehicle is a good idea, especially in the downtown business district.  The last thing you want are walls of snow and ice at the curb lining our streets for weeks.  We like happy, uninconvenienced visitors spending their money downtown, not spending their time and money elsewhere or in the hospital!   Well, that old- fashioned, sensible and friendly approach to removing as much snow as possible to keep things tidy and safe once made sense, but it doesn't anymore!

All pictures taken this morning:

This is what was left behind by the DPW snow eater

There were 5 dump trucks behind 
waiting their turn.

When DPW makes a major snow collection effort, as they've been doing today since midnight, they have to hire outside contractors to provide dump trucks and drivers.  Holy crap, the expenses must be astronomical!  The State of New York DOT does reimburse municipalities for emergency snow removal expenses, though I don't know if it covers everything.  The red dump truck pictured above is not owned by DPW.  The worker in the street directing things is a DPW worker.