Days after the blizzard buried parts of Brooklyn under nearly 2 feet of snow, the city is offering a financial incentive to help with the cleanup.<\/p>\n
New Yorkers can sign up to become emergency snow shovelers, earning between $30 to $45 an hour.<\/p>\n
In typical snowstorms, the pay for these shovelers starts at $19. This time around, the blizzard conditions have increased the pay to $30 an hour. Shovelers can earn $45 an hour after the first 40 hours worked in a week.<\/p>\n
The requirements are being at least 18 years old and having two forms of ID and a social security card ready to go.<\/p>\n
Under the supervision of a DSNY employee, shovelers generally focus on crosswalks, hydrants and bus stops.
\n\tSome shovelers say the program is going well.<\/p>\n
“I signed up just yesterday,\u201d said Errol. \u201cToday was my first shift. I saw $30 an hour and I wanted to sign up. You meet some great guys, it’s not hard and it’s something to get out of the house and do.”<\/p>\n
Another person who showed up at a local DSNY garage to sign up said he also sees it as a way to do good for his community.<\/p>\n
“It gets a lot of people out of their comfort zone,\u201d he said. \u201cTo come out here and work.”<\/p>\n