Bridgeport residents frustrated with snow removal

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's been more than a week since Blizzard 2013 hit and people in the state's biggest city are still fuming.

They want answers because they say many sidewalks in Bridgeport are still impassable.

Ten days after Bridgeport was blanketed in 30 inches of snow, the city still has a lot of work to do when it comes to clearing it all out.

"Still a mess, still a mess," said Tashaw Sistrunk, "but things are coming along, I see some progress."

Many sidewalks are impassable. The large snow piles are forcing people to walk in the streets.

"It's ridiculous how we have to walk in the streets," said Tajauna Peoples. "The sidewalks they haven't plowed it or anything. It's really ridiculous, I don't understand, and they had the money to do it so I don't understand what's the problem."

A former mayoral candidate in the city has launched a social media campaign to persuade residents to show up at Tuesday night's city council hearing to voice their frustrations.

Mayor Bill Finch's spokeswoman released this statement: 'It is clear that some of our citizens have been unhappy with the pace of the snow removal process. The Mayor shares this frustration, and will be conducting a review of our storm response as we always do to determine how the city can improve.'

Typically, the city requires residents to clear their sidewalks within 48 hours of a storm or they could face fines, but the city is making an exception this time.

"We're not enforcing it," said Scott Appleby, Director of Emergency Management, City of Bridgeport. "We're really concentrated on snow removal, however, we do encourage residents in ensuring us those sidewalks are cleared."

He says he's most worried about getting sidewalks cleared in time for school next week.

"Fire departments are going around today to their areas to assist residents with snow blowers that they have just again to encourage the residents to help the children when they are walking to and from school, that they're not walking in the roadway to make it an unsafe event," Appleby said.

To report a problem area, call the City of Bridgeport at 203-576-1311.