Why do homeowners not want to take care of the ice?

ChicagoBlue2

ChicagoBlue2

Veteran Traveler
Premium Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Messages
12,688
Reaction score
1
All right, here's the deal. I live in an area surrounded by schools, as some of you know, and because of that, the sidewalks are supposed to be clear of ice, and one side of the area is, but not the other side, which is slick as #$!%, and presents a danger to kids and their parents, as well as senior citizens who may be walking on that side.

Now my question is, why do property managers or homeowners not want to deal with the ice? City law mandates that sidewalks be clear of snow and ice, and yet, there's still some dangerous ice there, and right next to an iron fence and a chain link fence, no less.
 
Don't care?

Too lazy?

Too old or ill to do the work?

Can't afford to hire someone to do the work?
 
They have a certain amount of time to clear it. Maybe they just aren't able to do the work.

If you have no sympathy, there are always city departments to call who will come out and clear it and fine and bill the homeowners.
 
Reba said:
Don't care?

Too lazy?

Too old or ill to do the work?

Can't afford to hire someone to do the work?
Click to expand...

The first two are applicable here. I highly doubt there would be any older people living in one of the buildings, as when they were moving in, they were fairly young, so they should've been able to handle it. As for the two buildings run by property management, I have no clue.
 
Bottesini said:
They have a certain amount of time to clear it. Maybe they just aren't able to do the work.

If you have no sympathy, there are always city departments to call who will come out and clear it and fine and bill the homeowners.
Click to expand...

Sympathy I have-- I just want to see it clear, that's all. I have no interest in putting people in a budget situation with a heavy fine.
 
Many people who live in houses aren't landlords. They're simply tenants of house. Who gets billed if sidewalks aren't cleared? It's mostly likely that landlords would be billed. Tenants may care less.

Then again, tenants may not be aware that sidewalks are to be cleared according to city laws.
 
dereksbicycles said:
Many people who live in houses aren't landlords. They're simply tenants of house. Who gets billed if sidewalks aren't cleared? It's mostly likely that landlords would be billed. Tenants may care less.

Then again, tenants may not be aware that sidewalks are to be cleared according to city laws.
Click to expand...

Even if they own or rent the house or building, the law is the law, and sidewalks must be clear. I have not seen a lot of people using that section due to how slick it is, and the dangers present. I myself avoid it if I can. It's just not safe to walk through without bonking my head on something metal. I'd rather take the longer way around than have a fatal slip. It's common sense.
 
I live in a small town in Southern Illinois. I used to make it a point to have someone hired to clear mine. But with the combination of them not connecting to others except one neighbor (no walks to the north of me for the rest of the block from my corner and only one house to my east has a walk in front) and seeing postman and newspaper delivery cutting across without using the walks I gave up this year.
 
They are probably too tired to deal with it after a long, hard day at work....and don't want to spend money to satisfy someone else.
 
Jane B. said:
I live in a small town in Southern Illinois. I used to make it a point to have someone hired to clear mine. But with the combination of them not connecting to others except one neighbor (no walks to the north of me for the rest of the block from my corner and only one house to my east has a walk in front) and seeing postman and newspaper delivery cutting across without using the walks I gave up this year.
Click to expand...

Southern IL and Chicago are very different. Your area rarely gets any snow, if any. This is Chicago, where snow is common. In fact, it snowed last night, and the snow was crystal and shiny, never a good thing, and I had to make it fast in getting dinner last night and getting back home. Wish I didn't go at all, because I nearly slipped flat on my back taking a rarely used route home, and I learned that one is also a danger, so I'll stick with what I know is safe to use.
 
Buy enough food and stay home for few days. That's what I do. I buy enough food to last me a week. You'll save money too by not eating out.
 
ChicagoBlue2 said:
Southern IL and Chicago are very different. Your area rarely gets any snow, if any. This is Chicago, where snow is common. In fact, it snowed last night, and the snow was crystal and shiny, never a good thing, and I had to make it fast in getting dinner last night and getting back home. Wish I didn't go at all, because I nearly slipped flat on my back taking a rarely used route home, and I learned that one is also a danger, so I'll stick with what I know is safe to use.
Click to expand...

We don't get what Chicago does but you are way off to say that it is rare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had friends that moved here from up north say that most winters here are too warm and make it harder to drive on. The thing is if it is close to freezing and you drive on snow it compacts into ice which much slicker.

This year the biggest, so far, was because we have been part of the Polar Vortex that brought us between 7-12 inches of snow depending on where in town you measured on January 4 with then below zero temps. It stayed to the point that most schools were closed for about a week (we are 60-80 miles east of St. Louis depending on where you measure from). We have had snow come and go several times since. The overnight low last night was 14F and at 8:05 am this morning (01/18/14) weather.com showed it as 23F feeling like 12F. It is cloudy with more show showers in the area. For me simply a sunny day can make a world of difference in how I feel but winters known are for being cloudy here.
 
MangaReader said:
Buy enough food and stay home for few days. That's what I do. I buy enough food to last me a week. You'll save money too by not eating out.
Click to expand...

Funny you mention that-- I was actually considering doing that today, if I can figure out how to get the food home without making a littering mess. I do not need a $500 fine for any reason.
 
Jane B. said:
We don't get what Chicago does but you are way off to say that it is rare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had friends that moved here from up north say that most winters here are too warm and make it harder to drive on. The thing is if it is close to freezing and you drive on snow it compacts into ice which much slicker.

This year the biggest, so far, was because we have been part of the Polar Vortex that brought us between 7-12 inches of snow depending on where in town you measured on January 4 with then below zero temps. It stayed to the point that most schools were closed for about a week (we are 60-80 miles east of St. Louis depending on where you measure from). We have had snow come and go several times since. The overnight low last night was 14F and at 8:05 am this morning (01/18/14) weather.com showed it as 23F feeling like 12F. It is cloudy with more show showers in the area. For me simply a sunny day can make a world of difference in how I feel but winters known are for being cloudy here.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Maybe things have changed since I was a kid in that same area-- I lived further east, but still in Southern IL. Back in the 1990's, I didn't see as much snow then until I came up here in 2000. I remember the blizzard of 1993 and 1994, when we got hit with 10+ inches of snow, but I hadn't seen such a bad blizzard until 2011, when Chicago got slammed with 20+ inches of snow. That, by far, was the biggest I had ever seen. Some areas had 25+ inches of snow, and was a whole lot bigger than I was, and I'm tall. It could be I don't remember others, too, because I'm so used to living here, and used to the extremes of this city. Oh well.
 
how many times did you call police station? if it were only two times, then call cops for attacking the property manager who dont care about tenents safety.
 
As usual, I agree with all the responses folks have said. And, the owners (landlords primarily) are ultimately responsible for clearing. IF YOU FALL due to their negligence and you are hurt, there's always small claims court. If you talk to them and they deny their responsibility.

We rented a house prior to buying. When it snowed (and it felt just like we never left NY the first year uck...), we were responsible for clearing. But with our neighbors our age we all worked together clearing our three driveways. The neighbors across the street were too old to do it. That's working together and being neighborly.
 
Oh, please. A couple weeks ago I took a painful spill on a stretch of sidewalk in front of a house with elderly occcupants. Did I sue them? Nope. I told them what happened and offered to fix the problem, and they were very grateful I did.
 
Beowulf said:
Oh, please. A couple weeks ago I took a painful spill on a stretch of sidewalk in front of a house with elderly occcupants. Did I sue them? Nope. I told them what happened and offered to fix the problem, and they were very grateful I did.
Click to expand...
You didn't sic your raccoon on them? :giggle:
 
I don't know why residents would clear their sidewalks only under threat of the law. It would seem common sense and consideration to want to keep the area clean and safe.

We rarely have snow or ice but I keep my sidewalk swept of acorns, leaves, and twigs. Those acorns can be like ball bearings to walk on.

Of course, I understand about those people who physically can't do the work.
 
ChicagoBlue2 said:
Funny you mention that-- I was actually considering doing that today, if I can figure out how to get the food home without making a littering mess. I do not need a $500 fine for any reason.
Click to expand...

I would like to think if someone saw you drop a bag of food they would lend a hand rather then write a ticket.

Anyway, ordering dry groceries online is pretty convenient. Some places even offer free shipping with a certain $ spent. If you keep a storage like say a months worth and keep it refilled as you use it you won't have to worry about trying to carry more home then you are comfortable with.
 
Back
Top