Arundel Muckraker--Back in Action Covering The Snow Storm

For some insight into what its like in the city's Public Works Department, read this: http://www.arundelmuckraker.com/storyview.asp?STORYID=10146

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr., Thursday Feb 11th Joanna Conti--weather permitting

City Offices Closed Wednesday....Updates From City Hall

Because of inclement weather, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has declared that city administrative offices will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Essential employees, however, must report on time.
With the historic prospect that 50 inches of snow could fall on the city within a week, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen is warning residents to take shelter and prepare for the possibility that
roads will be blocked by snow for several days....continued...

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Have You Seen The Mayor's Blog?

Mayor Cohen is doing way more to communicate in a sensible and reasoned manner than his predecessor ever did, but this is what we expected of him. Check out his blog, read what he says about city snow removal--and best of all, read what your fellow citizens are writing in response.

www.mayorcohen.com/?p=49

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr. February 4, Civic Activist Scott Mobley
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???

A Note on Snow Removal From the City Administrator

(The following was prepared by The Ward One Residents Association and sent out this morning)

Here is the update I got from City Administrator Doug Smith on City snow removal efforts:

As of Friday the City had five large trucks, five small trucks, and
two front end loaders employed in snow clearing and street plowing.
They have now expanded the effort by bringing in contractors with
large trucks.

The challenge now is to haul snow away as the City works out into the
residential streets.  The goal is to get every street at least
passable- it won't be down to pavement - but at least passable.

The dead end streets and cul de sacs are the hardest for the City -
there is nowhere to push the snow so we have to scoop it up and put in
on trucks. - Doug.

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr. February 4, Civic Activist Scott Mobley
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???

A Brilliant Idea For Snow Plowing

Line Up all the Toyotas you can find, and put them all in gear and steer them towrad the nearest snowbank. By the time the accelerators get unstuck and they run out of gas, you will have plowed a new tunnel for sure.

Would You Want To Be "The Home Of The Week"? Not If Capital Punishment Gets A Laugh Out Of It...

The popular column in "Home of the Week" column in The Capital may be a source of some laughter and even bewilderment on my part, and while I can understand that many folks enjoy reading the well-written column and seeing the nice photographs, I cannot understand why someone would want to be featured. I mean, why not just put up a webcam and we can watch them prepare meals, vacuum the floor, shower, shave and sh-- in real time?

Some readers have joked with me that the column must be especially popular with the burglary crowd. ("Okay, single woman, works during the day, no dog, sliding doors back to the woods, fancy stereo against back wall.....nothing about her being an NRA member). Or better yet, the kidnapping crowd (Pretty cute, rosey cheeks, well-fed, parents obviously have money...take long vacations). Rarely however, does the column elicit much reader response, but last week's Bay Ridge rehab had nine responses, including some of course from the usual peripatetic suspects, but I found the unusual level of response to be interesting.

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State Capital's Highest Paid City Employees Are Bus Drivers....

 No, not here! Wisconsin! The news comes from Madison where the Wisconsin State Journal reports that union contracts are such that some bus drivers earn more than $100,000 per year in overtime.....Hmmmm.....meanwhile Mayor Josh Cohen keeps Transportation Director Danielle Matland on paid leave...at over $130k per year...
Read here:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_24af32d4-13f4-11df-86b2-001cc4c002e0.html

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr. February 4, Civic Activist Scott Mobley
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???

Yet Another City News Release On Yet Another Snowstorm

As the possibility looms that a second major snowstorm could strike the region within a week, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen is asking residents to clear vehicles from the Emergency Snow Routes by noon Tuesday.

Any cars remaining on those routes after noon Tuesday will be subject to towing. Cars will be towed to the City Dock parking lot.

The National Weather Service is calling for between 10 to 20 inches to fall in the region from noon Tuesday to Wednesday evening. That amount would be on top of the more than 2 feet of snow that fell on Annapolisover the weekend.

The mayor had reopened the Emergency Snow Routes on Sunday night. But given the latest forecast, the Mayor has again requested residents to move vehicles from the city’s major routes so plows and emergency vehicles can operate across the city.

The City’s three garages – Hillman, Knighton and Gott’s – are available for free to city residents on an indefinite basis. The City Dock parking lot is also available for free to residents. In addition, the Eastport Shopping Center parking lot (1005 Bay Ridge Ave.) between the old theater, Norman Drive and Americana Drive, is available to Eastport
residents.

If you are not sure your home is along an Emergency Snow Route, go to the city Web site, http://www.annapolis.gov, to find snow route maps and emergency routes along with other important weather-related information.

City Hall Closed Again

Because of inclement weather, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has declared that city administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Essential employees, however, must report on time.

Please, no jokes about essential employees. In a properly run government, all essential positions are filled and all employees are essential. We are getting there...we hope.

More Snow....A LOT More On The Way...A Backbreaker And A BudgetBuster

Whoever prayed for snow...please stop now!  See the latest from Frank Roylance's Marylandweather.com at:
http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/2010/02/nws_a_good_likelihood_of_more.html
(at least the plowmen are raking it in....more power to them)

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr. February 4, Civic Activist Scott Mobley
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???

Per the Mayor's order: Free parking has been extended until further notice for city residents who parked their vehicles at City garages because of the snowstorm.

Snowed in? Sick Of Winter? Watch These Vids...

The things we did last summer, I remember all winter long...



or this:



or this:



Listen to this morning's On The Foerfront at: http://www.1430wnav.com/onthefoerfront.mp3

Tonight's City Council Meeting Postponed

Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has postponed tonight’s City Council meeting to an undetermined future date in light of safety issues related to this past weekend’s snowstorm.

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???

City Hall Asks Us To Use Common Sense....

THIS JUST IN FROM CITY HALL:
Mayor Joshua J. Cohen is lifting the driving ban for all vehicles within the City limits as of 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8.

Even after the ban is rescinded, drivers should use common sense and avoid driving if at all possible. Those who do drive need to exercise extreme caution while behind the wheel. Minimizing traffic will allow plows to hit residential streets more quickly and ensure that emergency response is not hampered.

OKAY. Got that? City government is asking we the people to "use common sense.".  Uh huh. Yeah.  No further comment.

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr.
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???

Annapolis Transit Offering Limited Service on Monday

ANNAPOLIS TRANSIT: The Brown Route and State Shuttle will be in service for Monday, Feb. 8, but other routes have been canceled for the day. There will be no service into neighborhoods until road conditions improve. For more information, call 410-263-7964.

City Offices Closed...Schools Too

Annapolis, MD (02-07-10) -- Because of inclement weather, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has declared that city administrative offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 8. Essential employees, however, must report on time. The Truxtun Park Rec Center and the Stanton Community Center will also be closed on Monday. Please note that the Stanton Center will continue to operate as an overflow shelter.

And, in case you have not heard, schools will also be closed Monday.

Forget About The Car...Enjoy This Fine and Special Day in Annapolis

I am not talking about The Super Bowl, unless that's your thing baby. I am talking about relaxing, doing nothing...just go outside and simply enjoy the lovely day. AND LISTEN.....there are no cars....all sounds are muffled by the snow. Listen....Listen to what a world without cars would be like.  You won't get this chance very often. Get out and LISTEN...to the silence...
(and by the way--did you obey city law and shovel your sidewalk? And to where did you shovel the snow??? Was your sidewalk and driveway inundated more by what was pushed by city plows than what fell as natural snowfall?)

Annapolis In A State of Emergency

Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has declared a state of emergency as of 8:15 a.m. Saturday for Annapolis because of blizzard conditions. Heavy snow conditions and high winds have created treacherous road conditions across the city....continued...

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Alderman Arnett on City Council Meeting for Februrary 8

Below is Arnett's regular mailing of the upcoming city council meeting. Click here for the rest of the story:

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Not A Bit Of Irony In City's Snow News Release..Cars Rule. Walkers Drool.

From a city news release...
No City Refuse Services Provided Monday, Feb 8 or Tuesday, Feb 9

Annapolis, MD (2-5-10) Due to the Level III Snow Emergency in the City of Annapolis and the need to focus our efforts on snow removal, there will be no refuse services provided Monday, Feb. 8 or Tuesday, Feb. 9. This includes trash, recycling and yard waste collection. There will be no makeup days. Crews that normally provide refuse services will be assisting with the snow removal. This decision was also made to ensure the safety of residents and our crews since placement of refuse containers becomes “shaky” at best on piles of plowed snow.

Please remember City Code requires the abutting property owner to clear the public sidewalk of snow and ice within three hours after the snow or sleet has stopped falling except when the snow or sleet stopped falling between 3 PM and 6 AM, then the snow/ice must be removed from the walk before 11 AM. Please lend a helping hand to any neighbors who may be physically or otherwise unable to clear sidewalks.

Now for my commentary...read on______________

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Former Ward Eight Candidate on "National Sailing Hall of Shame"

(The below comments were submitted by Eastport resident Rock Toews, who recently ran for Alderman in Ward Eight as a Republican. The views here are solely those of Toews and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of this blog)

I have nothing against building a National Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis, but I am opposed to locating this facility on state owned land at City Dock. The current proposal and lease have significant fiscal ramifications for all citizens of Maryland, and potential regulatory implications for businesses and citizens in Annapolis.

From a fiscal standpoint, the deal would cost state, county, and city property tax revenues, and the state and city dockage fees.From a regulatory standpoint, the NSHoF could be exempted from local codes, ordinances, licensing statutes, and historic preservation requirements by virtue of its operating from state-owned property.

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What To Do If You See Snow....on your sidewalk

1. Pretend you did not see it.
2. Go shovel it off your sidewalk.
3. Hmmm...where to shovel it? Maybe on to the street? Where else?
4. Finish shoveling. Take a break.
5. Watch lots of crazy drivers slide through on the streets with blocked windshields, front and rear.
6. Watch city plow come through
 7. Watch city plow push all the snow--plus more--that you just shoveled--back on to your sidewalk.
8. Contemplate what to do next...
9. Do you shovel out yet more snow after it was packed and compacted and pushed back on to your siewalk?
10. Say the hell with it and go walk on the streets which are now more or less cleared?
11. Okay, so you walk on the street where cars are now flying by and risk your life to walk...which is what everyone else should be doing instead of  driving until everything is clear.
12. Get back home and get back to shoveling...and shoveling...back on to the street where at least it will melt away and you have nowhere else to shovel it....incur the wrath of crazy drivers who yell at you for throwing snow from "your" sidewalk to "their "road"...
13. Wait a minute! We get public crews to clear roads, which they do by throwing it on to my "private" sidewalk... but I'm at fault for shoveling my sidewalk which then got all that "public" snow thrown back upon it? This makes no sense....
14. You clear your walkway....only to find out that your neighbor has not cleared his walkway. So you did the right thing. Your sidewalk got cleared....but your neighbor did not get a citation. So people can now walk on "your"sidewalk" but not "his" sidewalk next door, so they have to then walk in "our" streets at great risk to their lives...
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO PLOW SO WE DON'T PUSH IT ALL BACK ON TO SIDEWALKS
IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LAW THAT SAYS SIDEWALKS MUST BE SHOVELED, THEN LET US ALL DO IT AND....LET OUR CITY GOVERNMENT FINE AND COLLECT FINES FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT DO IT....THAT WILL HELP ADDRESS OUR BUDGET DEFICIT....WHICH BY THE WAY...HAS JUST GOTTEN A WHOLE LOT BIGGER BECAUSE OF THE COSTS FOR PLOWING.....
A solution to this will begin once we determine who really owns and controls and is responsible for our sidewalks. I believe they are clearly in the public domain and while every citizen should clear what he or she can clear and should clear and help each other, the problem is...well just described above. The rest is commentary.

LISTEN TO CP Publisher Paul Foer on 1430WNAV at 8:15 every weekday morning or click on the WNAV icon to the right. READ CP Publisher Paul Foer's "The Ninth Ward" every Wednesday in The Capital.www.capitalonline.com
Join us for Sip N' Blogs each THURSDAY, 8-9 am at ZU Coffee, 934 Bay Ridge Road in the Giant Shopping Ctr. February 4, Civic Activist Scott Mobley
February 11, County Executive Candidate Joanna Conti
February 18, ???