Jim & Ted's Excellent Snow Adventure

(PHOTO: Amico clears the way.)

Jim Amico and Ted Carroll are not shy, as any MyRye.com reader or Rye resident can attest.

Well, they were collectively steamed by more blocked crosswalks during Rye's latest snow storm. So they requisitioned a plow and shovel and went to work.

These fellows reported the following snowy stats:

• On the Midland crossing, the uncleared snow on the eastern side of the avenue was 5 feet accross and 18 inches to 24 inches deep.
• On the Midland crossing on the western side of the avenue the uncleared snow was 10 feet across and 18 to 24 inches deep.
• On the Palisade Corner, the southern snow pile was 3 to 3 and a half feet deep and 10 feet accross.
• On the Palisade Corner, the northern snow pile was 3 feey deep and 5 feet accross.

Here is the MyRye.com photo album of Jim & Ted's Excellent Snow Adventure.

Comments

[Steve]

A big thanks to Jim Amico and Ted Carroll. I don't live by the Midland crossing but it's great to see residents take pride in their town and do the right thing!

[Charmian Neary]

Another point, I'm afraid, Average Citizen. Citizens have an absolute right to expect quality from day one regardless of whether or not they could "do better" themselves.
A group learning curve is unacceptable. Rye cannot wait more than a year for our elected officials to get up to speed, nor can it wait for the professionals we employ to gain the necessary skills. Both Pickup and Wilson served for years under their predecessors so they should be qualified to do their jobs now. I have no doubt that they are. I cannot say the same for our elected officials.
Elections are often staggered so not every seat is vacant at once to avoid a bunch of "rookies" playing catch up. Rye deserves better.
By the way, I haven't seen that much change - other than we lost a significant amount of institutional knowledge - causing the "stumbles" you mentioned.
A significant minority of Rye residents predicted these missteps would occur with a slate of rookies and they voted to keep the council and Mayor's office as it was to prevent the situation we have today. They were outvoted - in a large part by the coattail effect of Rob Astorino.
The minority still has the right to expect informed experienced representation. The thought that "Rye" voted for a new slate so we have to live with rookie mistakes is ridiculous."Deal with it" is not an adult response to legitimate problems.

PS. As a matter of fact, yes, I could do better :)

[Robert Zahm]

Steve / OG - You've got the points just right. And this was part of the point I was trying to get at the City Council meeting 12 Jan. There are many places throughout the city where city snow plows have piled up snow either on sidewalks or on the street abutting sidewalks making passage without ice axe, hiking boots, and - in some cases - pitons almost impossible. There may be ambiguity in the current city “code”, but if it’s on a public street, that would seem to make it the city’s responsibility to clear it. And hopefully that doesn’t mean just dumping / pushing / shoving it on to the adjacent property owner’s property.

[Charmian Neary]

I understand Old Garnet's question and I've asked as well. With corner properties I've noticed homeowners often only shovel to the corner. They do not shovel around the corner ( the sidewalk part for which they are responsible ) and do not shovel the length of sidewalk along the side of their property.
Yes, the plows can make the corners and cross walks nearly impossible to shovel without motorized equipment but I've seen homes where no effort was even made. Shoveling in front of your house is not sufficient if you live on the corner.

[Charmian Neary]

Yikes! Average Citizen...I don't read MyRye everyday so I just saw your comment.
What I meant when I said it is not semantics is that our Mayor should not hide behind that term, which often has the effect of minimizing a legitimate point. Regardless of the term used ( the semantics piece ) our Mayor clearly did not know how many men and women are on the force. He wasn't mistakenly including civilians - pehaps our City Manager was - I don't remember. Our Mayor simply did not know the answer, your assurances not withstanding. He needed to be corrected if you recall.
Semantics would be if he gave an answer using one term when the question called for another.
The City Manager knew the number, that was clear, but the Mayor didn't.
The "yikes" refers to your well meaning phrase "as your husband will tell you". My husband is a retired detective, first grade, and I take pride in his accomplishments, but I don't need him to tell me the diference between a police officer and a sargeant. I think my remarks to the council the night in question reveal I'm reasonably well informed on the subject of law enforcement.
I think we're on the same page here otherwise as are the other commenters. Do you agree?

[Jim Amico]

Old Garnet,

You are correct!
Property owners are ONLY responsible for the clearing of their sidewalks!

The City is responsible for the corners and crosswalks!

As the City Code is written, the City CAN NOT hold the homeowner responsible for the corners or the crosswalks!

I complained about this during the 1st big storm on 12/26 and they came right out and cleared the corners and crosswalks.
I waited 48hrs this time before going out there and doing it myself along with some help from Ted!

[The Old Garnet]

Let me get a clear understanding of the issue.

1.) Each Rye homeowner, business, multi-family dwelling, school or church must clear their sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of the end of the storm or face a fine. It's the law.

2.) Removal of snow from the crosswalks, and access to them from sidewalks, is the City's responsibility? Is this true?

3.) However a problem exists. Whose responsibility is it regarding the removal of snow from corner crosswalks and sidewalks especially when the City has "plowed in" these corners (including the crosswalks and sidewalks) while clearing the roads?

It would seem to me that the City should comply with the same 24-hour requirement for sidewalk or crosswalk snow removal as it imposes on its citizens. If unable to do so, then the City should change the law so that all responsible parties are uniformly subject to the same requirements. Why are Rye's citizens being held to a higher standard than the City itself is able to achieve?

[Robert Zahm]

"Fees are too … high” you must live in a very interesting, but alternate universe. I never "order" anyone to do anything. Trying to do so with my kids certainly doesn't work well. So forget about ordering Dr. Shine to do anything.

Now, if you choose to live in the same universe I'm in, you'll actually opt for direct conversation with your elected officials and paid employees instead of working through third parties and blogs. But heh, you've already demonstrated by hiding behind an avatar that you don't believe in your stated opinions strongly enough to come out in public with your real name. And the “questions” you ask are not really to drive out answers to which you’ll listen, but rather re-statement of positions intended to criticize our local government.

Have fun behind your masque, but how about making a bit more productive use of your (and our) time?

[tedc]

Freshgreenlight - While some of the snow we cleared was deposited naturally, the deepest, highest piles were deposited there by city plow activity. That’s why Jimmy needed to use his truck plow. No homeowner without one could have cleared these ‘man made’ obstacles.

[Freshgreenlight]

First of all, kudos to Jimmy and Ted for taking it upon themselves to clear these crosswalks.

That said, I just have to wonder why the people who live in front of these crosswalks - or any crosswalk that is near private property - don't just shovel them.

I know it's technically the City's responsibility, but if you have to shovel your sidewalks, is it that hard to just take a few extra minutes and do the right thing instead of waiting for the city?