I have to comment on Bob Bell’s letter on Jan. 12, which critiqued folks who have been critical of snow plowing. He indicated that people are clamoring for increases in personnel and equipment sufficient for the recent snowfalls. He goes on to blame the criticism on people exploiting the plowing debacle for political purposes.
He recalled that prior administrations staffed for “normal” snowfalls and asserted that a 20% increase in staff and equipment is demanded, but that those people would be idle and drawing pay most of the time.
I haven’t been in Anchorage as long, locating permanently here in 1975. Bell is correct in that snow removal was less of a problem in past decades. We also used to get far less snow. Other factors have changed as well.
Past writers have recounted how the staff and equipment were distributed around Anchorage and plowing would be done from those locations, not from a single spot requiring movement across town to start plowing. Others have pointed out that the number of staff and equipment is lower now while the mileage to be cleared has increased.
I have been at the same address since 1982.
The plowing and snow removal on my street had been steadily declining for years before last winter.
That’s the result when you try to do more miles with less manpower.
Bell argued that the complaints and advertising aimed at the mayor (and governor) are done by political operatives, not people “who were snowed in for days” and purely for political advantage. He suggested that this isn’t appropriate and that politics is a dirty game.
I suggest that the reality is that people are very dissatisfied with what is an essential service, and astute politicians realize that it is an issue that isn’t liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat.
I suspect that he realizes it as well, resulting in an effort to reduce its strength by attributing it to non-Alaskans meddling in our affairs. That’s a time-tested political ploy here. I don’t think it will work this time.
— Peter Crosby
Anchorage
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