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Residents throwing snow into streets, cold temp to blame for impassable roads | Paterson Times

Residents throwing snow into streets, cold temp to blame for impassable roads

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The snow storm that dumped almost a foot of snow in much of New Jersey has left many city side streets impassable due to residents’ proclivity to shovel snow into plowed streets, and frigid overnight temperatures that rendered salt ineffective.

“It’s hard to clean ice,” said mayor Jose “Joey” Torres. “One of the hardest thing to do is deal with frost conditions during snow removal because it just becomes an ice cap.”

Torres said public works crew have been working around the clock since 9 p.m. on Sunday. “We were out there last night again salting,” said Torres.

He said the temperature last night was 11-degrees Fahrenheit rendering salt ineffective. “Where you see the bulk of the icy condition is as a result of residents throwing snow back into the streets,” said Torres.

“Some of the streets are really bad,” said Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman, 2nd Ward councilman. “I drove by. They did some of the streets, but the problem is you could see snow on the surface level but underneath it is a lot of ice.”

Akhtaruzzaman said he has contacted Steve Howe, assistant public works director, who is filling in for Manuel Ojeda, who is on sick leave, with a list of streets that require attention. 1st Ward councilman James Staton said he is seeing progress on the streets.

“I see some streets weren’t done, but I see them working,” said Staton. “I saw the trucks on the streets so they are out here.”

He said some streets like North Main Streets have been salted and as the frigid temperature lifted the snow melted away. Staton, who said residents throwing snow back into the street is hampering city work, said many of the major arteries in his ward have been cleared of slush and snow.

“They need to clean it,” said Danny Lewis, who was pulling out a van on East 21st Street near Park Avenue. He said the street was plowed, but it needs more work.

Shelly Edwards, another resident, said the streets were plowed, but that was the end of it.

A number of city streets like Chamberlain Avenue, Bridge Street, North 1st Street, sections of Crosby Avenue, East 23rd Street, and others give the impression they were not salted or plowed leading residents to complain to their council members.

One lane of Chamberlain Avenue is entirely clean while the other is covered in a blanket of snow. Torres said that’s due to residents shoveling snow into the streets.

6th Ward councilman Andre Sayegh said he has received a number of complaints and he intends to raise the issue during tonight’s worship meeting. 3rd Ward councilman William McKoy also said he has received a few complaints from residents.

  • http://www.facebook.com/animalabusewar Animal Abuse War

    what a nerve to blame all residents.our street was plowed once & that's it.they didn't do it after it snowed again.& we don't throw snow on the street.it's a mess because PATERSON is a disorganized mess & they don't plow & salt the streets when they should.

  • Kaleigh De Fenza

    I highly doubt that the snow covered streets are due to residents throwing snow from the sidewalks and cars into the road but they really need to ticket the people caught doing it. That's the only way ppl are going to stop. The city needs to set up a unified system for identifying the high priority streets AND keeping track of the side streets that also need to be done. Paterson is a very hilly city and ALL the roads need to be clean and ice free ASAP for the safety of the residents. Our kids walk to school and the conditions are so unsafe, its like the city wants for people to get hurt….

    • Wafiyyah Lateef Taylor-gaines

      They lieing the plows just push the snow to the side and makes a bigger mess then what already there. Ever winter it's the same thing. They should try putting the rock salt down before the storm comes then maybe it won't be so bad. Smh

  • Robin

    I was in Paterson today and the conditions are deplorable. Mayor Torres, stop blaming your constituents!!! It is the ineptitude of the DPW and the office of the mayor. Chamberlain ave was almost impassable, side streets are only passable if there is only on car traveling. Once you cross the border from Haledon, west Paterson, Haledon, or totowa into Paterson, you are in a third world country as far as road conditions. This is every major storm. So stop the excuses and come up with a plan to end this problem.

  • Joseph Bucher

    I Drove by school 6 it had not been treated by aynthing36 hours after the storm Mr mayor take a break from getting your family members jobs on city and county payrolls ploy the city like Arlington Ave.

  • 2Eyes on paterson

    The city of paterson dept of public works has code enforcement inspectors that are required to travel thruought the city streets and issue summonses for violators caught in the act of throwing the snow back on the street after the street was plowed that carries a maximum of $1,250.00 fine bc it causes a dangerous condition.but the only problem is the 12plus inspectors are on tax payers time and are all home hiding and the chief inspector that is also home thru out the day stealing taxpayers money instead of patroling the city streets and enforcing city ordinances….but if nobody is watching the store THEN MORE POWER TO THEM TO KEEP ON MILKING THE COW…Thats why the city looks the way it does…..WOULD OF BEEN GREAT TO RESURECT MAYOR GRAVES TO PUT THE IRON FIST DOWN ON ALL THE UNACCOUNTABLE WORKERS IN THIS CORRUPT CITY…..

  • Joe Negron

    Stop w the excuses be accountable for your work. If in deed people are throwing snow back to the street make sure it don't happen. However I doubt all residents are engaging in such act. Man up clean up !

  • Joanetta Byrd

    Stop it Joey!!! Other towns let their residents throw it in the street, they just go around more than one time to make sure their roads are clean. Plus on their street cleaning day they remove the excess snow. So get a better plan, don't blame the residents.

  • Wafiyyah Lateef Taylor-gaines

    I guess the city of Paterson public worked around the clock by the Mayor's house cause that the only place I see that looks REAL clean. The main streets aren't even clean. They school zones are not even clean. H

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