Ten days after a winter storm dumped significant amounts of snow and ice on Philadelphia, Mayor Cherelle Parker acknowledged that many streets and sidewalks remain unpassable or difficult to navigate.
But Parker rejected the notion that her administration was not prepared and has not responded adequately to clear off roadways and other public spaces.
“For anyone who is frustrated right now about the ice, about the ability for all of the streets to be fully cleared, I want you to know that I understand, and I want you to know I feel it too,” she said at a news conference Wednesday morning. “We were prepared.”
“We don't promise to be perfect, Philadelphia," she continued. "We promise to go to war with the status quo and to fix things, to be doers.”
Carlton Williams, director of her administration’s Office of Clean and Green initiatives, said more than 800 vehicles were deployed at the height of the storm, up from around 450 for a typical snow event.
Parker and her top deputies told reporters that the combination of significant snow accumulation, ice and sustained frigid temperatures has made clean-up efforts difficult. The mayor characterized it as “one of the most challenging snowstorms and emergencies” in the city’s history.
Temperatures crept above 32 degrees Monday; however, prior to then, Philadelphia had experienced its longest sub-freezing period in 22 years, according to the National Weather Service’s regional office.
At least five inches of snow and ice have been measured on the ground for 10 consecutive days, the longest stretch since 2010, the NWS reported.
Commerce has been impacted, with ice hindering shipping along the Delaware River, representatives from the Parker administration said.
Among the halted vessels is a barge carrying 21 tons of road salt purchased by City Hall, officials said. Williams told the media that the municipal government currently has 15 tons in reserve.
Parker on Wednesday announced an initiative to hire up to 300 people a day to clear sidewalk ramps through a same day pay program. The corner curb cuts are particularly important for residents using wheelchairs, she noted.
“The goal is to ensure safe and accessible access to recreation centers, schools and nearby commercial corridors,” the mayor said. “Because the safe sidewalks matter just as much as safe streets.”
She went on to say that the teams will be sent to neighborhoods surrounding 10 recreation centers in all 10 geographic City Council districts. The program began on Tuesday, with nearly 240 workers clearing around 60 corners over a four-hour period, city representatives said.
The effort is an extension of the city’s existing Same Day Work and Pay program, in which folks are paid to collect litter, do landscaping work and help paint murals. It is designed for individuals who face employment barriers, due to recent incarceration, mental health issues, homelessness or other factors.
Workers get $25 an hour, officials said, and are provided through contractors that include Uplift Solutions, One Day at a Time and the NOMO Foundation. More than 1,100 people are on the same-day pay waitlist, according to the administration.
Over the weekend, the city teamed with the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and other agencies to conduct similar snow cleanup work at high-use SEPTA bus stops, Williams said.
“We need you to know that we won't rest,” Parker added. “We won't stop. Our job won't be done until every street in the city of Philadelphia is walkable.”
