SNOW PLOWING 101

During the past few snow storms Albany
City DGS did a good job of plowing New
Scotland Avenue. They finally got it
right?

Hardly, the Albany City DGS suffered
a relapse with the January 18 storm.

City plows kept the 2 center lanes of
New Scotland Ave clear, but allowed
the snow and sludge to accumulate in
the curb parking lanes all day. From
time to time a plow or bucket loader
would pass by, pushing more sludge
higher into the curb lanes.

As good  senior citizens, residents on
New Scotland between the intersections
of Buckingham-Lenox and Krum Kill
Rd, dutifully cleared our walks and
driveways.

About 2000 hours I looked out my
front door.  Our sidewalks and driveway
entrances were still clear.

As I turned and closed the door, I
could hear a freight train rumbling
sound. Instantly, I knew what was
coming. Two, large city trucks with
plows, came roaring down the North
side curb lane heading outbound on
New Scotland Avenue.

A tsunami of heavy, dirty snow/salt
sludge broke  before the speeding
truck-plows as they passed by, our
driveway entrances, curbside grass
islands and sidewalks were inundated.

If citizens had failed to clear their walks
they would be subject stiff fines. Who
will fine the City DGS?

Last year, we lost a fine sugar maple
we planted at curbside, 23 years ago
because of this annual assault of
excessive salt dumping and incompetent
plowing, by City DGS.

The other street trees along the avenue
are not faring any better. Nor, are the
road surface, the exteriors of our homes
our expensive vehicles, and our own
health ,as the years of municipal stupidilty
and abuse, take their toll.

Against my better judgment, at the
insistence of Margaret,  this past
Fall, I planted a small red maple
where the sugar maple , once stood
at curbside. I told Margaret that
the little tree would stand a better
chance of survival, if it were planted
on the front lawn, away from the
curb island. Just like talking to
the City officials, and DGS, I was
wasting my breath.

I looked at my increased city
property tax bill, due by January
31 and cursed the Mayor, City
Council, City DGS and County
Legislature for their stupidity
incompetence and tone deafness
when it comes to excessive salt
dumping on and snowplowing
of city streets.

Mayor Tom Whalen and Harry
Micheals did it right years ago.

Two graders, in tandem, would
slowly plow New Scotland Ave
outbound, then inbound, not
allowing snow and salt sludge
to pile up in the curb parking
lanes all day. Not speeding  by
creating a tsunami wave of dirty
heavy snow/salt sludge, in the
evening hours ,after residents
had cleared their walks and
driveways!

When  talking with a City crew
one day, I mentioned this. They
agreed with me, but said the City
did not have graders anymore.

Well, why not hire them along
with all the other trucks, plows
and bucketloaders, the City
contracts with to supplement
City DGS snow plowing efforts?

I was going to call the Mayor's
office this morning...but I
concluded that I would only
be wasting my breath.

No use trying to rally the
neighbors to call their elected
officials to remedy these abuses
and assaults perpetrated in
the name of government.

The neighbors are like sheep
who only bleat and appear at the
polls, now and then, to vote the
familair party line.

They are living lives of quiet
desperation and denial
seemingly oblivious to their
fates.


Nothing lasts forever. Time
takes care of all. Bleat, bleat!

Row A or B. Does it really
matter?

                          Joe Sullivan