More than 400 Jersey City residents and businesses are facing summonses for not clearing sidewalks and other snow-related violations following the January 25 storm. At least 9 inches of snow fell on Jersey City during the storm, leaving roads an icy mess, clogging bus stops, impeding crosswalks and frustrating residents, according to city officials.
Commercial and residential property owners are required to clear snow from sidewalks, ramps, gutters and crosswalks, but are not allowed to shovel it in the street. Violators can be fined $100 and/or be billed by the city if the Department of Public Works must clear their snow, local officials said.
Jersey City faced intense criticism for failing to adequately clear snow after the storm. Some residents complained about uncleared sidewalks directly to Mayor James Solomon, who was sworn into office only 10 days prior to the storm. Most of the more than 400 summonses were issued in the first few days after the storm, Solomon’s office said.
Solomon was tagged on an anonymous social media account displaying a photo of a snow-covered sidewalk taken two days after the storm. He later asked for an address, saying the property owner could be ticketed for failing to clear the walkway.
Last week, the mayor also pledged to prepare a report on “what went wrong” with the city’s efforts to clear the snow, partially placing blame on procedures in-place prior to his taking office January 15.
Other locations, including Newark, have also struggled to clear snow following the storm. Cleanup efforts have been complicated by below-freezing temperatures preventing the snow and ice from melting.
Jersey City increased snow clearing operations on main streets last weekend and are tentatively scheduled to conclude Wednesday, but a statewide salt shortage is among the factors complicating efforts. Jersey City has around 220 miles of roads.
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