Boston Mayor Wu said city may take over private property snowstorm cleanup and bill residents

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city is considering clearing sidewalks for residents and businesses in future snowstorms and then sending them the bill, citing the mess created by property owners who failed to clear snow as required.

Despite the criticism, Wu said she is “very proud” of the city’s response to last week’s massive snowstorm that dumped two feet of snow and was followed by arctic temperatures that have not resulted in much melting since that time.

“Our teams have gone above and beyond,” Wu said Friday at a press conference at the city’s Public Works Yard. “I know we have a lot of work to do when we get a historic amount of snow, from trash pickup, from schools being open, from libraries and community centers being accessible.

“I am very proud because we really reached and exceeded all of the expectations that we set for ourselves of how quickly we’d be able to get all of that up and running,” Wu added.

The mayor said there’s room for improvement in future storms, as it pertains to clearing snow from areas that are the responsibility of private property owners.

Property owners in Boston are responsible for clearing snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting their property within three hours after it stops snowing — or within three hours after sunrise if it snowed overnight, the city website states.

The mayor’s office said Friday that the city has issued 2,886 snow removal violations to property owners since last week’s two-day snowstorm.

Fines have totaled roughly $155,000, the mayor’s office told the Herald.

Wu said the city is considering stepping in next year, to clear snow from private property, and then sending the bill to taxpayers.

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“I think it is time to go beyond just relying on good neighbors and volunteers on certain areas where we absolutely need to know the sidewalk is clear,” Wu said. “It may come to a point where, as we’re thinking about next year’s preparations, exploring things like certain sidewalks that absolutely need to be passable, maybe the city should just assume responsibility, and then charge those property owners afterwards for the work that has been done.

“We know that for residents in the city, you just want to get around,” the mayor added. “It doesn’t matter who owns it, whose job it was … No one cares about the finger pointing. We want the streets and sidewalks, the curb ramps, the crosswalks, to be usable and for everyone to be able to still be out and about, part of our community, so that’s what we’re working towards.”

Homeowners were hit with a 13% tax increase this year.

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