The mayor of St. John’s admits that snow clearing is a challenge for the city, but all things considered they provide “good service” for residents.
There was a rally outside City Hall yesterday afternoon, led by the Social Justice Co-op, calling for better sidewalk snow clearing throughout the city.
Anne Malone, a disabilities advocate, says when the sidewalk is not plowed, life grounds to a halt for anyone with a “mobility barrier.”
Anne Malone (VOCM News)
She says everything else the city does for accessibility in terms of things like bus stops and crosswalks is rendered “useless” when the sidewalks aren’t cleared.
Danny Breen says when he first started on council in 2009, there was “very little” sidewalk snow clearing being done, and now they maintain 194 kilometers with a budget of about $10-million.
Breen believes progress is being made, noting they spend $32-million in total on snow clearing per year, but says it is a complex issue.
For example, he says during last year’s difficult winter, they went about $7-million over budget. He says the cost of salt, diesel, and equipment has all increased. Given the circumstances, Breen believes they do provide good snow clearing services.
