OpinionPublished: Dec. 08, 2025, 11:02 a.m.
A wet, heavy snow blanketed much of Central New York Tuesday morning, Dec. 2, 2025. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com) dennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com
To the Editor:
Well, the first real snowfall hit us last week and the sidewalks were mostly clear downtown, thanks to the Downtown Committee of Syracuse and the efforts of the buildings and tenants to clear the walks for the pedestrians and customers. A survey of the road conditions in the Downtown Business District reveals another lackluster performance of snow removal along the side streets. The parking lanes were unplowed.
If last year was any indicator of what we can expect from the city regarding snow removal, we are in for a long, frustrating winter.
When I saw new parking rules go up on streets to require alternate side parking, I was encouraged. It is time to enforce the parking rules and to put in the effort to clean up the snowfall properly. We suffered the lack of proper snow removal last year to detriment of all who used downtown. The parking lanes became multi-inch ice blocks when the snow froze. Members of the public parked and exited their vehicles at their own risk.
Can we expect a better performance this year? I overhear people bragging about the area being the best in the nation at handling the snow. I think it is abuot time to start proving them right.
James Horan
Vagabond Clothing
Downtown Syracuse
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