Snow Mountain Curbcuts in Newton: November 2010

Residential Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Ordinance Passed!

Newton passed a residential sidewalk snow clearing ordinance! It is a two year trial. Home-owners/residents are requested to clear their abutting public sidewalks and curbcuts free of snow during the winter. Businesses are allowed 24 hours after the snow ends, residents are allowed 30 hours to clear. Lets all continue to work with Newton departments to stop the practice of dumping snow mountains on the curbcuts and crosswalks. Everyone, lets work together so Newton has safe and accessible sidewalks all year long.

New Construction is Unacceptable!

It has rained for over 24 hours. Above photos were taken on February 24th. They show the snow mountains from city plows still blocking the public sidewalk on Wachusett Rd and Hammond Street at intersection of Commonwealth Avenue.This snow has been sitting here since the December storm. The most disturbing elements in these photos are construction flaws of these sidewalks paid for by our public funds from Mass Highway Dept and overseen by the City of Newton Traffic and Engineering Department. Notice the sidewalks end into utility poles and stop midblock on people's lawn. A wheelchair user is unable to use any of these sidewalks, and would have no other choice but to be wheeling along with the trucks and cars in the street. Newton, this is unacceptable!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Marcia Kearney remembered

Marcia (Puddy) Kearney died on July 8th in an accident while driving her Vespa on Ward Street in Newton. Her Vespa was hit by a car, and the driver cited. Marcia had a most generous spirit. In February, while asking for people to help with photos for this blog, I met Marcia in front of Whole Foods in Newton. She instantly agreed to sit in my manual wheelchair, and show the problems with wheelchair access with the snow mountains on the sidewalk. She had such a great attitude and you could not help but love her. She was a teacher at Country Day School. My heart and prayers go out to the family.

Thank you Marcia. Your acts of kindness and spirit will always be cherished, and you will never be forgotten.

Maryan Amaral

Newton Snow Ordinance Hearing Wednesday Nov 17th

Newton City Hall will be having a public hearing today at 7:00pm regarding the proposal for the Newton
snow ordinance. The Newton TAB blog has a new entry titled "Let it snow, Let it snow..." Please visit the enclosed link
about the ordinance proposal for requiring residents to shovel snow from the sidewalks in front of our homes. Please come to the hearing tonight in the Aldermanic Chambers!

Americans with Disabilities Act and Sidewalks

This video speaks to questions about how the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act requires for all public entities (cities and towns) to take care of their sidewalks, free from obstructions.

Also mentions about the "Barton vs Sacramento" lawsuit. Obligation for city and towns to not only install curbcuts (curbramps) but also to remove barriers on sidewalks, including removing street furniture, low hanging barriers, sidewalks raised and buckled, etc. Agreed on an annual funding formula to address barriers. Used part of cities annual transportation funding to fix sidewalks.