OPINION: Please Be Patient, Crews Are Doing Their Best
By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff
February 6, 2010
Sinclair Lewis observed in Main Street that winter in Minnesota is not a season, it is an industry. That has never been so here and hopefully never will be, but some people in The Little City are under the impression that it is and that our side streets should have been plowed by sunset.
Many weren’t and some might not be plowed until sunset on Sunday, though not for lack of effort. The City crews have not gone home. They worked all through last night and will work well into tonight. They catch a few hours sleep on cots at the Property Yard. They are doing their best and more, but neither they, nor anyone else here, can clear a record amount of snow in record time.
I know snow, having often seen more in a winter than Falls Church sees in a decade. I know how hard it is to move it, wherever it falls. Two feet of snow is a challenge for any city, little or large. I think the City crews did a great job in December and will do so again.
Emerson wrote that patience and fortitude conquer all things. So they do. Please be patient and accept that we at home tonight have the easier of the two duties.
By George Bromley
February 6, 2010
No doubt our hard-working crews are doing their best. But is the work being done equitably? The road that you live on and I live on has not been plowed as of 9 p.m. Saturday. A friend of ours who lives on Ellison Street told me his road was first plowed on Friday night and has since been plowed again today. Go figure. Should Sinclair Lewis have rather named his book Ellison Street?
Give them time. Loudon County has already cancelled school for Monday and Tuesday. Although there is no comparison in size – our staff is right for our size.
Take the chance to do absolutely nothing for a change. Feel what it’s like to relax. Cathy
A grand piece of writing. I will save it.
May have to wait until Sunday evening before the last of the streets in Falls Church City is plowed. I don’t expect to see a plow on my North Arlington street (morphing to be an extension of McLean with McMansions a-blooming and, in one set of 9 homes, three persons in the media) until Tuesday, and then ONLY if there is no snow that day. When the street here does see a county plow, it will be only for opening a single lane. The blade will leave plowed snow in front of driveways for residents to move if their cars are to access the lane. . Nothing like the plow driver clearing driveways that a FC CIty residents described after December’s snow. The Little City’ has an awesome snow plowing service. I’m dreaming of such a service here.
I’m not complaining because I really don’t want to go anywhere, but my street was not plowed at all today while a relative’s street in the same neighborhood was plowed multiple times. Kinda strange.
I have a lot of respect for those who drive the plows, I just hope they aren’t getting a little loopy from lack of sleep and plowing the same streets over again when others haven’t been touched yet.
There’s way too much snow out there, where are they going to put it? I don’t think it’s going to work to just push it all to the side of the road. With the 10 day forecast showing sub-40 degree temperatures (and more snow next week!) it seems like this snow will be around for a while.
Maybe they can truck it all over to the Syms parking lot and we can open a ski slope for a month or so.
I agree – they’re doing a great job. This is an unbelievable amount of snow too. I’d put our city’s plowing against any of the surrounding counties/cities.
I think to answer the question of the schedule of which streets get plowed, I think the Snow Emergency streets are plowed first. My guess is that streets that lead off of those get plowed next, since the plows have already cleared the street leading to it. Not sure how it goes after that. The snow emergency routes are listed at: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/Content/Government/WinterPrep/SnowEmergencyRoutes.aspx?cnlid=242
A rather pathetic and inaccurate criticism from George in my opinion. I live on Ellison St. and there was no city plowing until late Saturday afternoon. My neighbor who was pulling a double shift as a physician at Arlington Hospital got stuck in front of my place on Ellison Saturday afternoon which was impassable. We have a resident Bobby Small who plows around our area to be nice to his neighbors some of whom are old and live alone. The owners of the shopping center with an entrance at Patterson and Ellison also plow but I haven’t seen much activity there yet. After the City plows get Route 7 and then West my guess is that the next target are the streets directly parallel to 7 like Park and Ellison. I think the crews are doing a great job dealing with what is apparently the fourth largest storm on record.
The Falls Church City workers deserve triple overtime pay for their hard work! They serve us with smiles and waves even on no sleep. Be thankful! We are truly spoiled here in FCC!!! THANK YOU CITY OF FALLS CHURCH WORKERS! YOU ARE THE BEST!
Well, if it is any consolation, they have plowed my street, Patrick Henry Drive many times and people are still getting stuck. I think a plowed street can give a false sense of security in that people see a plowed street and drive down it, not realizing their cars are not made for this kind of a storm. Staying home or carefully walking to your destination makes the most sense and leave the open roads for emergency vehicles with a purpose.
Yes thank you to the City of Falls Church workers! I saw Wyatt out patrolling the streets to check the conditions and progress. We are not a city that gets alot of snow and when we do, the resources are stretched tight- equipment, crews and patience. Many of the city workers have been part of the staff for years, and I appreciate their dedication even though the get hit with all kinds of comments and criticisms.
A community runs when everyone does their job and there are many jobs to do to keep a community running. I say thanks or give a wave anytime I see a City Worker out doing their job, because I know these are thankless jobs.