Buffalo Sidewalks

My office is on the waterfront, and I walked up the hill today for a meeting on Main Street. Along the way, I had a choice: I could walk along a glaze of sheer ice; or I could walk in the street. My choice, again: Fall and get hurt, or get hit by a car. The sidewalks in question are adjacent to the WNED parking lot, (except for a small patch or two), and near St. Joseph's Cathedral. My understanding is that the adjacent landowner is supposed to clear the sidewalk. Did you know that there was a "pedestrian advocate" who, until about yesterday, was trying to work with the City to enhance enforcement of the sidewalk shoveling law?

As the city launches a blitz to try to get people to shovel their sidewalks, a high-profile pedestrian advocate is quitting the effort in disgust. Bill Durfee claims the city has no intention of enforcing its sidewalk shoveling law and says he is "bloody furious" over what he called the Masiello administration's feeble excuses to justify lax enforcement. "I am throwing in the towel," Durfee informed the mayor's office in a scathing two-page letter. "I have a large mantel at home. I will simply pound my head against it rather than put up with any more frustration from City Hall."

Amen, brother.