Although a New Year’s Eve snowstorm ended hours ago, some Pittsburgh streets remained covered in white on Thursday. “I think they haven’t done a good job removing the snow at all in the city, especially that storm we got three weeks ago,” said Shadyside resident Stephen Wagner. As of Thursday evening, the snow on residential streets in Shadyside, like Lehigh Avenue, had not been cleared. “I do tend to stay on main roads whenever it gets like this just because I know that there’s a chance if I try to get on a road like this, it’s just going to be not worth my time,” said Luke Stolarski while pointing to Lehigh Avenue. As Pittsburgh continues to face scrutiny over its snow response, the city’s vehicle fleet remains at the forefront of the conversation. “I think a lot of it is related to the mechanical failures, you know, the equipment that they have,” said outgoing Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith. “I heard yesterday that they were taking a lot of equipment trucks back and forth to get serviced.”Kail Smith, who represents District 2, applauded the drivers in her district and said manpower isn’t to blame for the issues. While she voted against the newly-approved 20% property tax hike, she is hopeful it will lead to a better snow response when the new administration takes over. “If we give them the right equipment, I think they will be able to do the job,” Kail Smith said of city employees. “Plus, leadership. I always talk about this. I think it’s important to work through the ranks and then promote from within.” Residents hope to see Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor tackle snow issues quickly upon taking office. “Something new is always good, you know, so like a fresh start that could make it better,” said Jake Geiger, who lives in Shadyside. O’Connor told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the vehicle fleet is a pressing item he plans to address.
PITTSBURGH —
Although a New Year’s Eve snowstorm ended hours ago, some Pittsburgh streets remained covered in white on Thursday.
“I think they haven’t done a good job removing the snow at all in the city, especially that storm we got three weeks ago,” said Shadyside resident Stephen Wagner.
As of Thursday evening, the snow on residential streets in Shadyside, like Lehigh Avenue, had not been cleared.
“I do tend to stay on main roads whenever it gets like this just because I know that there’s a chance if I try to get on a road like this, it’s just going to be not worth my time,” said Luke Stolarski while pointing to Lehigh Avenue.
As Pittsburgh continues to face scrutiny over its snow response, the city’s vehicle fleet remains at the forefront of the conversation.
“I think a lot of it is related to the mechanical failures, you know, the equipment that they have,” said outgoing Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith. “I heard yesterday that they were taking a lot of equipment trucks back and forth to get serviced.”
Kail Smith, who represents District 2, applauded the drivers in her district and said manpower isn’t to blame for the issues.
While she voted against the newly-approved 20% property tax hike, she is hopeful it will lead to a better snow response when the new administration takes over.
“If we give them the right equipment, I think they will be able to do the job,” Kail Smith said of city employees. “Plus, leadership. I always talk about this. I think it’s important to work through the ranks and then promote from within.”
Residents hope to see Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor tackle snow issues quickly upon taking office.
“Something new is always good, you know, so like a fresh start that could make it better,” said Jake Geiger, who lives in Shadyside.
O’Connor told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the vehicle fleet is a pressing item he plans to address.