A better snow plan

A city employee said there must be a better way (snow removal) but no one knows what it is. Here are some suggestions:

1. Start snow removal sooner.

2. Invest in more and better equipment.

3. Have a set plowing schedule, for example: “Snow emergency routes” are plowed first; north-south streets next; east-west streets next.

4. Absolutely no parking on those streets during the designated plow times with immediate towing prior to commencement of plowing.

A cursory review of snow removal polices on city Web sites around the country reveals a lot of better ways. Spokane can ill afford the collective loss suffered by government, schools and private industry due to an unnecessarily prolonged shutdown of the city because of an inability to move from place to place. The fact that 19 to 20 days after the first snowfall children could not attend school because individuals refused to shovel their sidewalks and roads were not safe is shameful and a complete civic failure. Reasonable changes require political will, including enforcement, and a true sense of community – neither of which are in abundant supply in this city.

Jody M. Cramsie

Spokane