awful sidewalks

[Suzie Dean]

I'm sorry if some feel that shoveling three walks is endangering my life, I see it as being a part of a community, not being perfect.

I agree with Danielle that the kids would of had school if the sidewalks were taken care of. I'm not going to expect my daughter that is all but 4 feet high to walk to school in 4 foot drifts.

As I said before just have consideration for our community walkers.

Maybe we can get an observer team together to help the elderly and those that aren't physically able of taking care of their sidewalks.

I'm with Doug, I would help as well.

It didn't take but a half an hour this morning to do what I did.

[Danielle Masters]

Maybe we can get an observer team together to help the elderly and those that aren't physically able of taking care of their sidewalks.

I'm with Doug, I would help as well.

Count me in too.

[Bryan Schwegler]

All I am saying - or trying to say - in any of this is that there is no reason for people to look at someones un-shoveled or partially shoveled sidewalk and make summary judgements about their personality, work ethic, morals, community spirit, etc.

I agree. I think often those without two working adults in the household or who live and work in Lakewood tend to forget that not everyone is in their shoes.

It's interesting, I see a parallel from my Sociology of Minorities class. It's often the case that a group of people will assign a negative view of those who do not fit what they consider "the proper standards of behavior" even if the social framework of the second group may not lend itself to being identical to the first group.

In other words, we all expect everyone to be able to do and think what we do and if they don't, they "must have a problem".

I don't believe every person with an unshoveled sidewalk is lazy, incompetent, hates their neighbors, is hostile to children, or is trying to bring forth the utter destruction of the city of Lakewood. In a perfect world, I'm sure they would want to shovel, some just haven't had the time yet.

[Dave Mechenbier]

The city does, (at least in 2004) have a program where senior citizens could get help clearing their sidewalks and driveways. The seniors were given names of teens to call when the snow exceeded 2". The teens received a voucher when the work was done which the City would pay. The pay was decent when the snowfall was 2", but think back to just before Christmas 2004. That December was tough on one teen living in our household.

[Gary Rice]

A few things,

Yes Suzie, I did feel that you did a wonderful thing, I also did feel that you might be endangering your life, but please keep things straight, I made no post whatsoever about perfection, nor would I want to discourage anyone from helping their neighbor.

I think that "perfect" post was not meant to apply to you anyway, as I re-read it.

I continue to feel that sidewalk snow removal is a service that the city needs to handle. As far as streets are concerned? To bury one side of a street at the expense of another, as they apparently did with Jeff, would seem to warrant a call to the city.

Dave, You are correct that the Office on Aging does indeed have a service where seniors can get their walks done by young people paid by the city.

The trouble is, the service is tied to household income. Seniors above that income level might be happy to pay for a shoveler, but try to find one when you need them.

Maybe there is a solution out there, now that we are discussing it.

[Suzie Dean]

All the excuses for residents aside...

What about businesses. Businesses that are close to schools. How can we expect children to get to school.

Danielle and I took a little ride to see exactly how our kids could get to school by walking safely. And needless to say there is no way that our children will be walking. I feel really bad for those families that don't have any other choice but to walk.

Danielle will be posting pictures shortly some near schools and some on main streets often frequently used by pedestrians.

[Danielle Masters]

Here is the link to my photos, all the excuses in the world should not apply to businesses or city property. Also one last thing on this issue and then I will be quiet. If you live on a street near a school, I don't care how big your property is, SHOVEL YOUR WALKS. Shame on the majority of residents on Franklin/Hilliard. The high school kids are going to have to walk in the street tomorrow.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... eled-walks

[Grace O'Malley]

Danielle

Thank you for those pictures.

The condition of those walks is DEPLORABLE. For shame on the businesses that cannot clear their walkways.

How does anyone expect a child to walk through the mess? It is dangerous.

I've always thought Hilliard/Franklin was an accident waiting to happen. The walks are right next to the roadway and most of the time the sidewalks are icy and slippery. Not only that. the speed limit is 35; far too high for a walk heavily traveled by schoolchildren.

[Bryan Schwegler]

I've always thought Hilliard/Franklin was an accident waiting to happen. The walks are right next to the roadway and most of the time the sidewalks are icy and slippery. Not only that. the speed limit is 35; far too high for a walk heavily traveled by schoolchildren.

It's been that way forever. I remember walking to high school from Arthur down Hilliard and it was always nasty.

[Danielle Masters]

I just got off the phone with the city. They just plowed Edwards and they said they will be back out at 3:30AM to continue shoveling. They said they would Wagar Park then.

[J Hrlec]

Well back when I was a kid, I had to walk back and forth to school in 8 ft. of snow with no shoes.... OK, just kidding...

However, I would emphasize what another poster had said: Just because a sidewalk may be unshoveled, it would be unwise to make any blanket statements about the owner.

I think the one thing to consider overall is the extreme of this particular snow storm. Any other snow downfall has been easily cleaned and salted (drive and sidewalk) by myself, however due to the heavy volume and weight of this downpour I just could not physically manage it in one day.

I am not elderly but I do not have a snow-blower and my back could only take so much. I will surely make my way back out as soon as possible to finalize the job as always. Now if an owner NEVER cleans their sidewalk, that may be a whole different issue.

If any of the "righteous" want to come over next heavy snowfall and assist in getting the sidewalk shoveled, please contact me... your more than welcome. Maybe we can invent shovel shoes for the children and solve 2 issues in one shot?

[Grace O'Malley]

I do think there is a higher standard to be demanded of commercial versus residential property.

I don't think its being "righteous" to expect that the snow along public walkways on major roads be cleared when over 24 hours have passed since the snowfall. There is no shortage of snowplow operators or kids that would be willing to shovel for money. Sometimes I think it comes down to people being too cheap to pay for a service.

[Bryan Schwegler]

Don't forget, shoveling can be dangerous too:

http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plain ... tml#237704

[Jim O'Bryan]

Here is the link to my photos, all the excuses in the world should not apply to businesses or city property. Also one last thing on this issue and then I will be quiet. If you live on a street near a school, I don't care how big your property is, SHOVEL YOUR WALKS. Shame on the majority of residents on Franklin/Hilliard. The high school kids are going to have to walk in the street tomorrow.

Danielle

I cannot thank you enough for the photos. This is exactly what we were hoping for when we put this together. If you click on the "permalink" you can then add them to the Observation deck by posting that between IMG brackets by clicking twice on the Img button.

Love what you are doing.


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[Esther Hazlett]

Just want to chime in here briefly...my primary source of exercise is to go running outside, in most types of weather - snow, rain, fog, etc. I am continually mystified by the lack of shoveled sidewalks, even before the Tuesday-Wednesday storm.

I went running Monday night. Almost all of Sloane Ave. had un-cleared sidewalks. Maybe 3-4 houses were passable.

I realize that not everyone has the ability to shovel, owns a blower, etc. But a whole street? And that's just one instance.