Allana rides her bike to work in Brooklyn from her neighborhood of Queens almost everyday-- even in the rain. She's a teacher and the bike is her preferred form of transportation.
But not this past Monday. Following this weekend's pounding by Winter Storm Jonas, biking was no longer an option-- especially, she said, behind what she feels has been a lackluster cleanup effort by the city.
"You think Brooklyn is bad? You should see Queens," she said, adding that the many of the streets were still barely passable.
Mayor Bill de Blasio today delivered an update on the city's response to Saturday's storm which he says, given the storm's magnitude, has been top flight:
"This weekend, Mother Nature sent us the second largest snowfall since 1869 — and hundreds of our city's tireless workers rose to the challenge to keep our city safe. Under the toughest of circumstances, our sanitation workers and first responders braved the elements to protect the people of this city," said de Blasio. "New Yorkers should continue to use extreme caution when walking and driving. When shoveling, remember to stay safe, and do not overexert yourself."
So here's what's been done so far:
DSNY
- Since the end of the storm, DSNY has plowed up to 97 percent of streets (all primary and secondary streets) at least once. Only some tertiary streets remain impassable, and DSNY has been focusing plows to those streets in Queens. DSNY is also revisiting some secondary areas where snow has been dumped back into the streets.
- DSNY has plowed 96 percent of routes in Queens since the end of the storm, a 26 percent increase since 8:30 PM last night. In Staten Island, DSNY has plowed 94 percent of routes since the end of the storm, a 16 percent increase since 8:30 PM last night.
- There has been a significant increase on tertiary and smaller routes since last night, 34 percent on all citywide routes, including a 43 percent increase in Queens, 65 percent increase in Staten Island, and a 42 percent increase in the Bronx.
- DSNY has more than 2,000 pieces of snow clearing equipment out. Of those 2,000 pieces of equipment, more than 900 are being used for snow removal in Queens, where areas recorded 30+ inches of snow.
- DSNY has diverted front-end loaders from other boroughs and hired private contractors to assist in digging, piling, and hauling snow away to melters.
- DSNY workers remain on two 12-hour shifts, with 2,300 workers per shift.
- DSNY is hiring snow laborers to assist with continued cleanup. 920 snow laborers have been hired. For more information on how to become a snow laborer, visit nyc.gov/snowlabor.
(What about Brooklyn???)
DOT
- As of this morning, DOT has a total of 305 pieces of equipment, including 90 plows, on the ground and 450 staffers dedicated to snow removal.
- As of this morning, DOT has worked with its contractor to clear 1600 of 3400 bus shelters across the City.
- DOT has cleared 354 overpasses and 39 step streets.
- Alternate Side Parking rules suspended through Monday, February 1. Payment at meters remains in effect.
- SI Ferry continues to operate on a normal schedule.
NYCHA
- NYCHA locations are in the salting or final stage of their snow removal operations.
- Actively treating icing conditions at NYCHA properties.
NYC SERVICE
- 200 NYC Service volunteers signed up to assist in shoveling operations.
NYCEM
- NYC Emergency Management deployed 50 CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) volunteers to assist with snow measuring and digging out hydrants.
The Mayor also urged New Yorkers to sign up with the Sanitation Department as day laborers, and reminded residents that alternate side parking is suspended until Monday, February 1.
