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Harrisburg residents are expressing growing frustration with the city's snow removal efforts following a historic winter storm that blanketed the Pennsylvania capital last weekend.
Mayor Wanda Williams issued a statement on Wednesday (January 29) addressing complaints from residents who continue to deal with high snow piles and limited access to streets and sidewalks.
"As long as temperatures remain below freezing, there's nowhere for the snow to go," Mayor Williams said in her statement. The mayor emphasized that city crews will continue working until all snow is cleared, but asked residents for patience as the cleanup process continues.
The historic snowfall has created significant challenges for the city's public works department, which has been working around the clock to clear primary and secondary roads. Many residential streets, however, remain difficult to navigate.
This is not the first time Mayor Williams' administration has faced public criticism. Last March, the mayor held a press conference to address allegations of nepotism after media reports questioned the hiring of several family members to city positions. At that time, Williams defended the hirings, stating her son had worked for the city's Public Works Department for ten years prior to her taking office.
The current snow removal situation has further strained relations between the mayor and some city council members. In a recent response, council members criticized what they called a "revolving door of city staffers" that they suggest has hampered municipal services.
Local resident Maria Thompson told reporters, "I understand it was a big storm, but some of us haven't been able to get our cars out for days. The main roads are clear, but our neighborhood streets are still a mess."
City officials point to the below-freezing temperatures as the main obstacle to faster snow removal. Without a thaw, plowed snow has nowhere to melt and continues to block portions of streets and sidewalks.
The Public Works Department has announced they are prioritizing clearing access to schools, hospitals, and main transportation routes before moving to residential areas. They've also reminded residents that city ordinance requires property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after snowfall ends.
"We understand people are frustrated," said Public Works Acting Director James Horton. "We're asking for just a little more patience as we work through this unprecedented situation."
The mayor's office has established a snow removal hotline for residents to report areas of concern, and the city has published an online map showing which streets have been plowed and which are scheduled for clearing in the coming days.