In light of the brutal winter, city officials in Reading are cutting residents a break when it comes to snowy sidewalks.
For the time-being, "quality of life" citations will not be issued to people for failing to clear their sidewalks of snow, a decision meant to benefit the city's elderly and disabled.
According to Mayor Vaughn Spencer, even city workers have been struggling to keep up with all of the work.
"It's become a task, even for us, even for our crews," he said.
Therefore, in an effort to be fair, residents won't be punished for facing the same struggle - at least temporarily.
"There was a time when neighbors looked out for neighbors. We don't always see that happening throughout the city, so how can we cite somebody for sidewalks when we were having problems ourselves?"
Spencer spoke to 69 News while joining public works crews outside Barbey's Playground.
While those workers had spent hours shoveling, Spencer said that the city needs help.
He is requesting that volunteers assist in shoveling sidewalks throughout the city, whenever and wherever possible. So far, several local organizations have agreed to help this week, including Adappt Inc.
"We need to get out. We need to talk to the people. We need to get support and help them keep our sidewalks clean," Spencer said.
Some residents have already been assisting, like Carlos Mitio, who told 69 News that he had spent roughly four hours helping to clear walkways in his neighborhood on Thursday.
"Just to help 'em out," he said. "Some single parents that have to take care of their kids. We have to make sure that everything is clean."
Over at City Light Ministries on North Ninth Street, Lloyd McCauley was helping to shovel the nearby sidewalks.
"I try to help out the best I can here with the shoveling and trying to make people laugh. That's what I like to do," McCauley said.
"We appreciate the fact that we have some people willing to help us," said Spencer, who hopes to round up more helping hands.
So far, there's no telling when the "quality of life" tickets will be issued again for snow removal.
"There's been some ambiguity with the language," said Spencer, adding that he hopes to review the issue with city council members in the near future.
from 69News:Home http://ift.tt/1H2nqsK
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