Providence City Council Calling in DPW Officials on Failed “Snow Removal and Salting”
GoLocalProv News Team
Providence City Council Calling in DPW Officials on Failed “Snow Removal and Salting”
This week, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s administration faced harsh criticism of the city’s preparedness - and cleanup - of the snowstorm that dumped over two feet of snow in the city.
“I [was] on the phone since Sunday with neighbors who are understandably frustrated. Days after the storm, many streets are still narrow, unplowed, and difficult to navigate," City Council President Rachel Miller told GoLocal earlier this week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNearly a week after the storm, few streets are properly plowed.
Parking spaces were never cleared in business areas, infuriating small business owners.
Merchants on Hope Street, where street parking is nonexistent due to the snow, are also criticizing the city's response.
Dixie Carroll with J Marcel on Hope Street told GoLocal on Wednesday, "Came into work today to see that not one single parking space has been cleared in the entire business district. I called the mayor's office and spoke to a constituent representative, lodged a complaint, and she asked if she could do anything else."
"I said that I wanted a phone call back to know what the plan was to fix the situation," said Carrol. "She basically laughed and said, 'No one will call you back.'"
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While Providence was struggling to dig out of the storm that had left streets poorly plowed, schoolchildren forced to walk in the street, and business owners complaining, Smiley flew out of town to attend a conference in Washington, DC, for the week.
The Public Works Committee is meeting on Tuesday, February 3, at 5:30 PM in Committee Room A for the sole reason of discussing the city’s snow removal program.
DPW Director Patricia Coyne-Fague and other staff have been “invited” to appear.