Businesses that ignore request to shovel sidewalk & more

[Ryan Salo]

Gary's 1 shovel wide post http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13064 and seeing some mothers trudging through snow covered sidewalks almost a week after the last snow has really fired me up to get on the city about either finally enforcing the city ordinance or just getting rid of it.

Stroller on Madison

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Mary Simon told me today that the Grace side of Family Dollar would be cleared today... AND IT WAS!!

Here is a picture I sent to Mary this morning showing the sidewalk.

Grace AM

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Here it is when my wife and I drove by after our date night, way to go Mary!

Grace PM

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I do not know if the city cleared it or if they got the land owner to do it, but it got done! Now I hope Mary starts going after some more IRRESPONSIBLE business owners! More pictures coming soon.

[Ryan Salo]

Here is an update on some of the business I contacted earlier in the week and originally posted here http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13064&start=30

Family Dollar - The city or Family Dollar cleared their sidewalk - as seen in above post.


Chipotle - Chipotle manager said not responsible for sidewalks - STILL NOT CLEARED

Hungry Howie - manager had no idea said they don't do it - STILL NOT CLEARED
UDF - Didn't notice will look again tomorrow
Auto Zone - manager said she shoveled the Detroit side right after the snow but city plows must have pushed it back and she didn't have anyone do the side street but she would now - partially cleared a shovel wide path which is not near wide enough for those with strollers or in wheelchairs/electric scooters
The Stash - phone still disc - STILL NOT CLEARED
St Peters - woman who answered said they normally had someone do it and she looked out the window and saw what I meant - she was going to call the guy that does it and get it done - Was cleared that day!
Donatos - manager blamed the plow company and said she would get on it - STILL NOT CLEARED
Dr Harter dentistry - receptionist said they hire a firm to do it and will let the Dr know it wasn't done - STILL NOT CLEARED, DR MUST WANT PEOPLE TO SLIP AND CRACK A TOOTH

Irresponsible dentist

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Chelsea gardens - left a message - Owner called back a couple days ago and said he would get on it - NOT DONE

Irresponsible apartment owner

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Johns Diner - worker said owner hires firm to do driveway and not sidewalk - STILL NOT CLEARED
Papa Johns - Shift manager said they clear walkway outside of business and pay to have driveway cleared but have never worried about the sidewalk. - STILL NOT CLEARED
Bee Clean - no live person answers - left message - STILL NOT CLEARED
Georgetown - no one was there that knew who did it - didn't notice will check again
Blackbird Bakery - One of the owners said they don't own the building and the landlord clears parking lot - she will work on getting sidewalks cleared - STILL NOT CLEARED

Irresponsible coffee shop

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[Ryan Salo]

My wife and I also noticed quite a few additional sidewalks along Detroit that were in bad condition. Here are pictures of a few.

Bakers Motors

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This is one of the new developments on Detroit that is making such a positive impact on the surrounding area... Not sure if the homeowners are supposed to do this or if they have a contractor for the development, but someone doesn't care about helping Lakewood be a walkable city.

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Does the city own this or does a developer?? Seems like this should be an easy one for city hall to contact and get fixed.

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It sure seems like Mary and the others in her department have a lot of work to do the make walking in "the most walkable city in Ohio" SAFE!

I know there are a lot of home owners that are ignoring the law as well./ I am focusing on businesses on the main streets with the largest walking volume. If we focus there we can build upon successes.

Feel free to post pictures of business on Detroit or Madison that you notice are ignoring their sidewalks. Together we can pressure both the businesses and city hall into action.

I'll post more information as it becomes available.

Shovel on!

[Glenn Palmer]

Ryan way to go! A couple things come to mind from my own experiences.
1) If a business EXPECTS to be supported by the city residents, then they MUST show that they are committed to the city and clear THE ENTIRE SIDEWALK around their business not just a path to the curb for potential customers or the parking lot. 2) I have made mention to the powers that be that the plow trucks must slow down when plowing in order to curtail launching the snow back upon the already cleared sidewalks. There is very limited space from curb to structure for the snow to be placed and clearing it once of virgin snow is enough without having to do it repetitively with the slush and ice placed by the city.

Finally) This is northeast Ohio we get snow here people. Budget time and money for removal as part of your business plan!!!

[m buckley]

Ryan, I really want to thank you for your efforts. I suspect that the city shoveled Family Dollar (I saw two city trucks parked in front yesterday afternoon) and if that's the case I hope there is the accompanying $200 fine. Where is the Mayor on this? Why are you doing all the work? You've listed names and provided photographic evidence of businesses clearly breaking a city ordinance. More than enough time has now passed for the city to have issued warnings, then shovel those sidewalks and assessed fines. The administration's support for commercial interests at the expense of residents is going to get someone hurt.

[Ryan Salo]

I am sure the Mayor is busy with the hospital transition. I did leave a message for the mayor as well as with Jennifer with the Law Department. I will pass the information on once I hear from them.

I think my biggest concern is that we have too many "nice" people running the city. Mary is very nice, the mayor is very nice. etc. I believe that sometimes you need to be strong and step on some toes to make progress within government...

[Ryan Salo]

I am glad to report that quite a few of the businesses I contacted during the last snow did a great job clearing the sidewalk during the last snow. There are still quite a few that never touched it and now it is an icy mess.

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I saw that Sunoco didn't touch theirs, except by the driveway entrance. I called and asked if they had salt or something to put down and was verbally assalted by the front desk worker asking why I had so much time to bother businesses. He said "it is Cleveland, sidewalks are icy". When I asked for him managers name I was hung up on. I called back and was given the name and he told me I should swing by at 8 when he got off work, I jokingly said I may and he said he would call the cops. I drove by on my way back from Home Depot to take some pictures of the sidewalk when this worker came out and started yelling again saying they he put down some salt. I thanked him for doing his job to which he responded he was glad I didn't do mine?? I then went in to show him a picture of Andy, posted below, who can't even drive on the sidewalks due to so many irresponsible business owners. The worker said he feels bad for people like that but I should call businesses to tell them to clear their walk and he should call the cops for harassment. I said he should and to also show them their sidewalk.

On my ride home I got a call from Lakewood Police who said I shouldn't be calling businesses repeatedly... I hung up on the officer. This city is falling apart....

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[Amy Martin]

If I did my job as bad as Mary Simon does hers, I would have been fired years ago . . .

[Ryan Salo]

Meet Bryan and his son. Bryan was walking along Detroit using his white cane to avoid obstacles. He hopes businesses can do a better job of keeping the sidewalks safe for him and his son. Thankfully he said he is fortunate that he doesn't have to walk along Detroit very often.

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[Glenn Palmer]

And now the clock is ticking folks. Lets get it done

[Jeff Dreger]

How about the folks I've seen that not only don't shovel their sidewalks but they actually have snow and ice dams on either side of their driveway. Apparently, these people get someone to plow their drive but not clear their walks and they just leave a mountain of snow/ice blocking the walk where it intersects their drive. Do we need public shaming? A jerk of the month club? Or do they not care? Worse than not doing anything is actively making the situation worse. Unbelievable.

[Toni C Northrop]

Just put a call into Rite Aid's corporate office. Love it when they shovel in front of the door but not around the parking lot! Thanks to all on Northland and Arthur. You can walk from corner to corner and not hit an un-shoveled sidewalk!

[Ryan Salo]

I saw Bryan standing with his white stick in Clifton Blvd today because RTA has failed to clear the snow around the stops. By the time I turned around to take a picture he was gone but here is a picture of the stop. You would actually have to step down into the bus because of the amount of snow. Handicapped accessible?? I think not! I called RTA and they told me their crews are working as hard as they can, I asked when it would be done and she said they don't have an ETA on getting all the stops cleared.

CAN THE CITY CLEAR THEM AND FINE RTA $200 FOR NOT OBEYING CITY LAW?? I KNOW WE HAVE A HISTORY OF LETTING THEM WALK ALL OVER US BUT WE NEED TO EVENTUALLY STAND UP.

RTA FAIL

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[Amy Martin]

I take the new CSU line and getting on and off these buses on Clifton is very dangerous. Yesterday, a woman slipped under the bus while the packed snow at the bus entrance gave way. It took 3 riders to get her up and onto the bus. The stops downtown are just as bad. The bus driver yesterday told us that the City is responsible for clearing out the stops, but it makes sense that it is RTA's responsibility.

[Ryan Salo]

UPDATE: I have been on the phone with different departments of RTA and finally spoke with Linda Krecic, the RTA spokesperson. At first she said it was the city's responsibility but then did research and called me back and said that in regards to the new shelters only, it is RTA's responsibility to clear from the shelter to the street. It is still the city's responsibility to clear the side walk to the shelter. She said work crews have been dispatched. Hopefully it won't take a lot of calls from concerned citizens for them to clean up after the next snowfall...