Comments on: Dear PoP – Snow Clearing Award

By: JoeEsq 74

JoeEsq 74 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:53:55 +0000

Really – Do you think homeless people are in a position to travel away from shelter in this weather. They congregate where they hope to get a bed for the night.
It sounds good but is the homeless guy a really reliable snow removal plan?

As far as what the hell churches are for (faith / worship aside) a few things come to mind; fellowship, ESL classes, childcare, health screenings, food pantries, visiting sick / shut ins, youth services (tutoring, scouting), support for military spouses etc. No single church is supposed to be all things to all people. All churches do not do homeless outreach. I am not sure anyone should dictate to a church what their mission should be.

CHURCHES SHOULD SHOVEL. My point is a commercial enterprise owes a Special duty to shoppers based on the nature of the relationship with the consumer.

By: DC Girl

DC Girl — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:56:34 +0000

Our condo shovelers were awesome – our sidewalks were amazing after several rounds of shoveling and they even somehow produced a snowblower. I had picked up some disposable warm beverage cups from CVS before the storm and we made them some hot chocolate and they were very grateful..considering baking some cookies for this storm.

By: Park Viewer

Park Viewer — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:35:09 +0000

Thumbs up to my neighbors across the street who helped me shovel my entire sidewalk…which I was doing specifically so I wouldn’t be the group house who broke a little old lady’s hip because we were too busy with a snowball fight to care. We did still manage a snowball fight, by the way.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:35:09 +0000

thumbs up and thanks to the brittany at 2001 16th st nw – they cleared the entire width of a very wide sidewalk all around their triangular block. it was the best part of a sloppy and grumpy commute yesterday for me.

By: ontarioroader

ontarioroader — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:30:24 +0000

Churches also know, like everyone else who doesn’t shovel, that there’s no enforcement of that hefty $25 fine for failure to shovel. Is the city really going to dispatch resources to clear sidewalks when they can’t even clear the streets, then attempt to recoup the costs from residents? No, of course not. Just like littering – no enforcement means no compliance.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:06:17 +0000

Churches, like everyone else, knew there was a storm coming. There are always plenty of homeless guys with shovels around eager to work. If you aren’t connecting with homeless guys on a routine basis, and can’t manage to arrange a pay a few to shovel you sidewalk with a WEEK’s notice, what the hell use are you as a church?

In fact, churches should have been buying snow shovels for the homeless to use to be able to earn some money.

By: JoeEsq74 Says

JoeEsq74 Says — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:32:32 +0000

Cut the churches some slack they are not for-profit entities like CVS. If the custodian / maintenance guy / caretaker does not show what is the church going to do re: snow removal? Many have older congregations and most cancelled service on Sunday.

I have much bigger issue with the pedestrians walking in the street at night wearing dark colors.

By: 13th & Harvard

13th & Harvard — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:40:07 +0000

I agree- major thumbs down to the CVS at 14th & Irving! They only seemed to shovel like 5 feet in front of their door…the sidewalk along Irving is a mess. It’s really dangerous.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:35:54 +0000

What is the point of shoveling more than a two foot wide path or so? Higher piles of snow just mean a longer period of melt-freeze cycles and ultimately, more danger to pedestrians.

By: Truxton K

Truxton K — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:19:20 +0000

And a big thanks to Shiloh Baptist, Springfield Baptist, and the “Seek Ye The Lord” church for not bothering to clear the sidewalks in front of their property. Particularly Shiloh, which owns nearly the entire west side block of 9th St from P to Q. I am sure the old lady I saw hauling her groceries home in the street this AM within 2 feet of fast moving traffic appreciates the civic- mindedness of Shiloh and the rest.