Neighbors Not Shovelling Snow
So, I’m wondering if I can do anything about my neighbors who don’t shovel their snow. As in, they haven’t shoveled after ANY of the storms we’ve had. This is a problem in front of at least four houses on our block, which have narrow paths of packed-down ice at least three inches thick. I…
So, I’m wondering if I can do anything about my neighbors who don’t shovel their snow. As in, they haven’t shoveled after ANY of the storms we’ve had. This is a problem in front of at least four houses on our block, which have narrow paths of packed-down ice at least three inches thick. I have tried ringing the doorbells a few times but never get any answer. Our lazy-ass next door neighbors moved out without making any shovelling arrangements, so my husband and a couple of other neighbors have been cleaning that walk, but it’s pretty ridiculous for us to have to go up and down the entire block cleaning up after peoplewho don’t maintain their own property. I’m not really one for ratting people out for petty shit, but the situation is getting to the point where it’s genuinely dangerous (actually, it passed that point a while back). It’s especially aggravating because a) there are several elderly people on our block and it’s just a matter of time until one of them gets hurt, and b) there are several young men who go door to door here offering to shovel walks for $10. Is there anyone I can call about this situation, and is it likely to actually accomplish anything?
Better! Call 311 and post some signs on the block: “See a walk that *still* hasn’t been shoveled? Please call 311! If manners don’t mean much maybe money does?”
yeah.
Call 311.
I don’t know if you were referring to the situation with my neighbor and me, designerbiker, but no matter. You are correct. I don’t know why I haven’t called yet because the neighbor is such a dirtbag. I did, however, call 311 on him about 5-6 years ago because his adjacent backyard was full of trash and all sorts of other crap. I told 311 that I had seen things moving and that I could not really be sure if I was seeing rats because I had no intention of getting close enough to risk a rat bite.
That was on a Thursday morning. Friday, I was at work until well after dusk. When I went out back early Saturday morning, I nearly fell over when I went to throw out the garbage. His back yard was totally cleared of all trash, overgrown plants, etc. The neighbor came out and asked me if I had called Sanitation on him. I looked him in the eye, said I had, and that I would do it again and again if he ever let the yard go like that. While he still remains a pig, the situation has never gotten anywhere near that level again.
Not only aren’t neighbors shoveling snow, but are using these snow storms as an excuse to turn the sidewalks into garbage dumps. Our neighbors have simply tossed their garbage bags, etc. out on the sidewalk and made no attempt to knock the snow off for the few pickups we’ve had. As a result there are four layers of trash encrusted snow in front of their place.
They have more money than God, have two nannies yet quibbled with the teenager who asked if they’d like to hire him to clear the snow. We suggested they pull the garbage out of the snow bank so it can be picked up this am and the jerk said, ” well the snow will melt and they can get it then. UGH!!! How nasty is that. There is just no excuse for being that lazy.
You should always clear a minimum width path so people can safely walk – then call 311 and demand that the property be ticketed. I know people that have gotten tickets for not shoveling, and they deserved them, it is unneighborly and selfish, and there is no excuse. Money talks, and these people will only take notice if the city presses them to pay several hundred dollars in fines. Don’t feel bad about it, and they will never know who complained.
While I haven’t yet called 311 on my next door neighbor, whose guts I truly hate, I have been sorely tempted. Only this winter has he actually hired guys to clear his sidewalk, but interestingly, not the steps up to his front door. (In past winters, with 5 young children, the walk and steps up to his front door were snow/ice covered disasters.)
In a discussion with another neighbor, when I discussed this with another, very rich neighbor, she said she understood because some people did not have enough money to pay someone to shovel for them. I replied that they shouldn’t own houses.
(all 1 or 2 family homes) It really takes a true bastard to consistently not shovel in front of his house.
“I understand the hypothetical, but really find it dubious that it would find much traction with a jury.”
I don’t find much traction on those un-shoveled sections of sidewalk either. The theory would be the same – if you shovel then you’re accepting responsibility for making it safe. But how are you going to get sued – someone slips and falls and the non-shoveling neighbor shows the video she took to prove she meant to leave as as is and it’s the good samaritan neighbor’s fault?
really? well, good then. maybe it’s been a priority given how badly they bungled the rest of the snow response.
next up: how long between when the snow melts and when they start ticketing for 2-month old uncollected recycling?
There was an article recently that said the city had issued something like 2,500 violations for not shoveling.
Honestly, with the exceptions of elderly people, how hard is it to clear a a sidewalk?