I agree with you, Ivan! It's really disgusting how shortsighted the city has been, regarding this last storm. They're just lazy and don't want to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Maybe the city should give Somerville residents tax refunds to compensate for the lousy job that they've done in handling this whole situation.

When people die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, it's because they either leave stoves on to heat their homes, or don't bother to clear their vents of snow and ice after the storm. Yes, the city should also get tough on residents/property owners who fail to clear and salt down their sidewalks after a huge storm like this, and to find a decent place to dump the excessive snow, like haul it away in big trucks to the city dump or something.

This single snowfall was more than the total for the last two years. If you live in New England, you have to expect some inconvenience from the larger storms that happen every few years.

Thank you Chris. Appreciate the effort!

Warren, I have to disagree with you somewhat. With more foresight and thinking, the city could find a sensible way to haul away the excessive amounts of snow and find a decent place to dump the excess snow where it won't have such an impact on the city at large. It sounds as if the snow emergency will be in place indefinitely, with the way things are looking right now, thanks to the shortsightedness of the City. I've lived in this city roughly 25 years, so I can pass judgement and express my opinion.

I predict the snow emergency will be lifted by the end of the week - which is to say, around the time most people have dug their cars out.

The city is currently in the process of hauling away excess snow from critical locations, but that process can't start until the plowing is done, and is much slower than just plowing to the side of the road - plus they have to do it in a way that minimizes road closures.

I kind of disagree with you somewhat, Mark. I still remember that, in the aftermath of the Blizzard of 1978, they were piling the snow up into huge, huge, heavy trucks and hauling it away. That's what they do in many other parts of the country, including the midwest, that frequently get hit with heavy amounts of snow/ice. There's no reason why they can't do that here. I don't think that an indefinite snow emergency is acceptable, either.

Let's not forget that in the Blizzard of 78, it took a week to dig out, irrespective of the dump trucks and such. Much of the equipment in 78 was borrowed and took days to arrive.

I've lived here almost 25 years, Chris, and I've got to say that Somerville is almost up with Cambridge in so far as having the worst snow removal after winter storms goes. It's quite sickening, imho, and the fact that our taxes have been increase to pay for such poor service is disgraceful.

For what it's worth, I've lived in Somerville for 23 years and was in Cambridge for the blizzard of 78. I think you guys are doing great. The streets have been open throughout the storm, and the plows have avoided plowing snow back onto cars and into driveways after they were shoveled.

I'd certainly agree that the governor did some questionable things, but Somerville has been fine.

It probably depended on where you went in Somerville. Maybe that was the case near the Somerville/Medford line, but not in most other places, I'm sure. They've raised our taxes enough, so why can't they spend that on ways to make snow removal more efficient? They should, imho.

Since I don't live in Medford, the snow conditions in Medford don't concern me. Thanks.

I guess you don't have a car. Most people in Somerville do.

Sidewalks are supposed to be cleared by property owners. However, due to the statewide travel ban, maintenance employees were in many cases unable to arrive to clear sidewalks for a day or two afterwards.

Pitching in is great, but do be careful of where you put the snow, since in Somerville, there just isn't that much space to put it.

Not much point in clearing the roads if you can't drive on them.