[spider]

FWIW I live on a side street at 401 & 404 approximately where my road was plowed late yesterday (windrows were not created at driveways as usual). The sidewalks have not been plowed yet which is unusual as they customarily are out and about at the first hint of snow falling. I am not complaining, I guess they are pretty busy.

Update. sidewalk plow by at 5:45 pm, all is well.

 

[DSC]

According to the Sun one can phone His Honour at home to get snow cleared.

As Hogtown continued to get battered Friday by the worst winter storm in five years, Ford went on Newstalk 1010’s John Tory show to thank people for their patience as the city slowly digs out. While former mayor Mel Lastman once called in the army to deal with snow in the city, Ford urged Torontonians to call him at home if they have a snow emergency.
“We’re trying to do the best we can and if there is severe problems call us. People can call me at home if they want it is 233-6934 - that’s my direct number at home,†Ford told guest host Matt Gurney.
“I don’t know what I can really do but I can at least direct them if they have an emergency that someone has to get in there, I can get (Chief) Paul Raftis from EMS in there.
“Emergencies come first, so if people have a real problem I have no problem people calling me at home, 416-233-6934. I’ll try to do the best I can but they’ve really got to be patient.â€
City snow crews have been trying to keep up with the snow since it started falling Thursday night. Ford urged residents to keep their cool as they wait for the plows to clean the streets.
“I’ve just got to ask people to be patient ... people have to be patient,†he said.
“The main streets are going to get done again. We’re going to get the side routes by Sunday morning … if it stops by 12 o’clock midnight tonight then we should have everything cleaned up by 6 o’clock Sunday morning,†he said.
The mayor described the clean-up so far as “great.†Ford said he’s been in touch with city transportation staff, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, Toronto Fire and Toronto EMS.
“We’re keeping things under control,†he said. “Things are going well."
The car-friendly Ford also had praise for the city’s pedestrians.
“I want to thank the pedestrians and the citizens of this city that are walking on the streets. I drove up and people are stopping helping people out (that) are stuck in the snow. I really want to thank the pedestrians for helping out motorists and pushing them out.â€
Outside one school in Etobicoke, Ford said he saw 15 kids come out and help people push their cars ut.
“I want to thank people for helping everyone out in this situation,†he said.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

The only thing I saw that seemed unusual were drivers at highway off-ramps getting stuck or digging out of deep windrows left by the snowploughs, even transport trucks were getting stuck. I certainly wouldn't blame Rob Ford for that, in fact that he went on a radio show and offered up his phone number for emergencies seemed pretty decent of him. Everything else seemed to go well considering how long it's been since road crews had to clear a large city after a storm like this.

 

[W. K. Lis]

According to the Sun one can phone His Honour at home to get snow cleared.

As Hogtown continued to get battered Friday by the worst winter storm in five years, Ford went on Newstalk 1010’s John Tory show to thank people for their patience as the city slowly digs out. While former mayor Mel Lastman once called in the army to deal with snow in the city, Ford urged Torontonians to call him at home if they have a snow emergency.
“We’re trying to do the best we can and if there is severe problems call us. People can call me at home if they want it is 233-6934 - that’s my direct number at home,” Ford told guest host Matt Gurney.
“I don’t know what I can really do but I can at least direct them if they have an emergency that someone has to get in there, I can get (Chief) Paul Raftis from EMS in there.
“Emergencies come first, so if people have a real problem I have no problem people calling me at home, 416-233-6934. I’ll try to do the best I can but they’ve really got to be patient.”
City snow crews have been trying to keep up with the snow since it started falling Thursday night. Ford urged residents to keep their cool as they wait for the plows to clean the streets.
“I’ve just got to ask people to be patient ... people have to be patient,” he said.
“The main streets are going to get done again. We’re going to get the side routes by Sunday morning … if it stops by 12 o’clock midnight tonight then we should have everything cleaned up by 6 o’clock Sunday morning,” he said.
The mayor described the clean-up so far as “great.” Ford said he’s been in touch with city transportation staff, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, Toronto Fire and Toronto EMS.
“We’re keeping things under control,” he said. “Things are going well."
The car-friendly Ford also had praise for the city’s pedestrians.
“I want to thank the pedestrians and the citizens of this city that are walking on the streets. I drove up and people are stopping helping people out (that) are stuck in the snow. I really want to thank the pedestrians for helping out motorists and pushing them out.”
Outside one school in Etobicoke, Ford said he saw 15 kids come out and help people push their cars out.
“I want to thank people for helping everyone out in this situation,” he said.

I would never call the mayor (Ford, Miller, nor Lastman) to complain about the streets not being plowed. I call 311 directly. All the mayor will do is pass the information over to 311, that's all.

 

[DSC]

I would never call the mayor (Ford, Miller, nor Lastman) to complain about the streets not being plowed. I call 311 directly. All the mayor will do is pass the information over to 311, that's all.

Yes, of course it is ridiculous to call the Mayor (or a Councilor) about stuff like this but it is the kind of 'simple' solution that Ford likes (and can understand). It's like calling the head of the TTC about a shelter bus but it's how his mind works.

 

[M II A II R II K]

He also got caught up in a celebrity take down.

 

[Voltz]

My side street in Scarborough was plowed before noon on Friday, the snow that fell afterwards would have made anyone guess otherwise. But it was just plowed again this evening, and the windrows were cleared both times.

I did notice that a few other side streets in my area were not plowed in the first round like mine was.

 

[nfitz]

My side street in Scarborough was plowed before noon on Friday, the snow that fell afterwards would have made anyone guess otherwise. But it was just plowed again this evening, and the windrows were cleared both times.

LOL, the plow went past while I was reading this. First time today, but I saw it pass twice yesterday ... and you wouldn't have believed it this morning. Still isn't clear to pavement ... it's going to take a few passes, there's so much slush on the streets. Though with the sun tomorrow, and the rain Monday, that should clear to pavement what the plow hasn't gotten.

I really can't complain. The sidewalk plow passed here on the artery, long before most people had started shovelling (Gerrard). The bus stops and cross walk locations are all dug out (even if you have to wade across the side streets). Heck, they even salted the alleys today (which should work great where the locals had already dug it ... not so sure where there was still a foot of snow ...).

I really don't see much difference from the last major storm pre-Ford.

I can't remember ... did Toronto cut back on windrow clearing? Though I've never seen it done except when I used to live on Gerrard, rather than on a side-street. They don't even clear the windrows for their own alleys!

 

[Tee]

It's all part of the Ford 'snow job'. There's never enough attention for this guy. He has this Messiah complex. In his world he's the only hope of the masses. Never mind that the system has departments filled with very capable people who handle these matters. He's a joke on steroids.

 

[BurlOak]

It's all part of the Ford 'snow job'. There's never enough attention for this guy. He has this Messiah complex. In his world he's the only hope of the masses. Never mind that the system has departments filled with very capable people who handle these matters. He's a joke on steroids.

Since your post is directly below nfitz, I assume that is the person you are referring to as "he". If you were referring to Ford, I think you would have used a reply with quote to the post by W. K. Lis.

I do agree that giving out your home number is not part of the job of a Mayor or Councillor.

 

[doug]

What a bunch of nonsense

You should make that your signature.

 

[Automation Gallery]

You should make that your signature.

Yeah, blaming RF on how their streets havent been plowed a short time after a major snowfall...yeah nonsense

 

[nfitz]

Yeah, blaming RF on how their streets havent been plowed a short time after a major snowfall...yeah nonsense

Agreed. But what are you to do, given the poor-performing below-average-intelligence mayor has set a really low standard with similar moronic comments. Perhaps absurd comments about Toronto's lack of performance under Rob Ford are simply fair satire.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Yeah, blaming RF on how their streets havent been plowed a short time after a major snowfall...yeah nonsense

I would object to him taking credit for calling 311 on your behalf. Rob should be trying to add people to 311, so we wouldn't have to wait so long on calls. Instead, he wants to reduce staff.

There are those who may think about cutting sidewalk clearing and windrow clearing at the foot of driveways as a way to save taxpayer money, when most homeowners would think that would be money well spent.

 

[rm20010]

Overheard on his radio show (via Twitter):

Ford asks how many members of council there are in Markham. Scarpitti: 13. Ford, laughing jealously: "Imagine that...So lucky."

Wonder if the "jealousy" was over the supposed 'low' number of councillors in Markham, or that Markham residents have more representation in council (~20000 residents per councillor in Markham versus over 60000 per councillor in Toronto).