Nutter lauds city's efforts to dig out of snow; not all residents agree

MAYOR NUTTER last night praised the city's snow response, but said the city still had work to do to dig out from the latest winter blast.

"The citizens have been tremendously cooperative, understanding and appreciative that every storm is different," Nutter said. "We'll continue to work through the night. We are on our way; we will get to you. If your street hasn't been done, we're doing our best to get to you."

Nutter acknowledged that the unexpected severity of the storm, combined with the mix of snow and icy rain, had been hard to combat. In all, 15 inches were dumped on the city on Wednesday night and yesterday morning, more than double the predicted 6 inches.

During the course of the storm, snowfall was interrupted by freezing rain, meaning that even after plows scooped up the snow, a "hard pack" of frozen snow and ice was left on the streets.

"It was unusual, we've attacked it very aggressively," Nutter said.

City crews were out all Wednesday night fighting the storm and continued last night. Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson said that the city had plowed and salted all but 100 of Philadelphia's 2,575 miles of roadway. But she stressed that because of the hard-pack coating on the streets, treating didn't necessarily mean that streets were cleared to the blacktop.

In South Philly, Kevin, 21, was helping clear snow from his friend's mother's car on Tasker street, near Hicks.

"I can catch SEPTA all day long, [but] if I had a car I'd be highly upset," he said, adding that his block in North Philly, near 11th and Ontario streets, had yet to be plowed.

"They don't never plow 11th and Ontario," he said. "People got outside early this morning to clear the snow themselves."

Meanwhile, narrow Castle Avenue, between 13th and Broad streets, was still covered in show.

"I'm kind of suprised they didn't come through," said resident Joseph Umile, 74. "There's a lot of handicapped people on this block. They usually plow here."

"They never plow over here," said Anthony, 46, who was trying to clear away some of the snoW from his Jeep. "They plow the main roads."

The city has not yet put a price tag on the snow-removal costs for this winter. The city has already received 37 inches of snow, a foot more than this time last year.

Digging out from the three massive snowstorms that hit the city last winter cost $18 million, according to the mayor's press office. The city does not put specific money aside in the budget for snow.

Nutter added last night that enforcement of people failing to shovel their sidewalks would start today.