Boston Schools Closed Monday and Tuesday, Parking Ban In Effect
Boston Public Schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday, and a snow emerency parking will go into effect at 4 p.m. Sunday, Mayor Marty Walsh announced at a press conference Sunday afternoon. Ticketing for those violating the parking ban will begin at 6 p.m., he said.
With up to 24 inches of snow possible through Tuesday morning, Walsh urged those who can stay home to do so. Only the city’s emergency personnel will be reporting for duty tomorrow, he said, and the city’s public meetings will be cancelled. The Boston Public Library will also be closed tomorrow.
Four crews will be sent out Monday to shovel out four thousand handicapped parking spaces in the city.
Walsh urged residents to keep heating vents and tail pipes clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and asked that residents help public safety personnel by shoveling out fire hydrants.
Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn said there has been an “uptick’’ in the number of carbon monoxide incidents.
“I think all of us are learning more about snow than we ever wanted to learn about snow,’’ said Walsh, noting that the city had reached “unprecedented area’’ in terms of snowfall.
“No mayor has ever had to deal with this amount of snow,’’ said Walsh. “Maybe Alaska or Buffalo, where they’re used to it, but nowhere else.’’
Walsh said he spoke with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio about the possibilty of borrowing snow melters later in the week.
“That’s one thing we might be asking for as the week goes on,’’ he said.
Although many residents have expressed frustrations related to the snow and its removal by the city, Walsh said most Bostonians had been good dealing with the situation.
“People are frustrated, I’m frustrated,’’ said Walsh. “The last thing I want to be doing is talking about another 24 inches of snow.’’
He also said that a recent Boston Herald article, claiming only 20 percent of plowing requests in the city had been answered, unfairly criticized the city and that Boston was “100 percent passable.’’
The mayor chuckled when asked about the status of the snow removal budget.
“Our snow budget?’’ said Walsh. “We spent it. We had $18 million, and we’ve passed it.’’
He again reiterated that the number one priority was public safety.
“That budget stuff; we’ll figure that out,’’ said Walsh.
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