by David Greene

For two weeks Norwood residents have taken to social media websites as well as phoning 311 and local elected officials to complain about unpaved streets and ice covered sidewalks

Residents began to complain after vehicles were becoming stuck on streets that had small patches of ice appearing as though the road were partially cleared.

PlowNYC, a multi-million dollar city program that outfitted snow-plows with GPS tracking devices, showed that the street’s in question–Decatur and Hull avenues between E. Mosholu Parkway and E. 204 Street, Kossuth Avenue between E. 208th Street and Mosholu Parkway, and Tryon Avenue at East Gun Hill Road–had all been cleared.

Keith Mellis, a spokesman at the Department of Sanitation defended his workers, saying the icy patches were “caused by people who throw it back into the middle of the street and we go through it with a plow and can’t pick it up.”

Decatur and Hull avenues were completely cleared shortly after the Norwood News asked DSNY about the streets.  Kossuth Avenue remains encased in two-inch blocks of ice.

Pedestrians could very well have it rough schlepping and traversing portions of Norwood, particularly on Mosholu Parkway.  There, Jennie Jones discovered walking along Van Cortlandt Avenue East and Mosholu Parkway South with her cousin was treacherous

“I think it’s unfortunate that we have to walk on an icy sidewalk,” Jones fumed.  “My cousin here, Emily, her balance isn’t so great and she almost just fell right there on the corner.

“Something needs to be done about these sidewalks where people can walk to the grocery store, which is where we’re going, without fear that their going to fall down and hurt themselves,” she added.

Van Cortlandt Park resident Jerry Sorensen agreed with Jones when he described his dilemma.  “I live two blocks from the store and I can’t get there.”

Norwood residents took to Facebook about an ice covered street outside of Williamsbridge Oval Park near Bainbridge Avenue. A television news crew aired the story, quickly prompting one shamed Bainbridge Avenue business owner into getting workers to clear the narrowest of paths.  Councilman Andy Cohen, who represents the Norwood area, has  stood plugged in with neighborhood gripes.  A spokesman said they’ve turned to social media sites like Facebook to gather information on some un-plowed streets and pedestrian sideways, relaying information to the city Sanitation Department district supervisor as well as the city Department of Transportation.  Residents with issues can reach out to Cohen’s district office at 718-549-7300.

A story by The New York Times recenty revealed a similar condition awaited straphangers outside of the E. 174 – E. 175 Street Station of the B and D train along the Grand Concourse.  Shortly after the article a crew from an unknown city agency cleared the section featured in the story, but left an entire sidewalk covered in ice and snow that greeted subway riders at a second exit.

Oversight of a given property often results in finger pointing.  In the case of East 174th, the city has jurisdiction over the Grand Concourse, though the state may control a portion of the street as it’s an overpass of the Cross Bronx Expressway.  Confusion also abounds after the Norwood News learned the MTA and Department of Sanitation could also be in charge of the property.

Concourse senior Joseph Llano limped along the newly paved street with a cane, noticing how clear the street looked.   “When it snows, it always gets icy here and they never pick it up,” he said.  “I don’t know who cleaned it over here.  Someone must’ve complained.”

As the Norwood News goes to print we will contact the appropriate agencies regarding Kossuth Avenue, Van Cortlandt Avenue East and the Grand Concourse so that these dangerous conditions are corrected as soon as possible.