“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style”
Those were some of the comforting lyrics from an old Christmas favorite – “Silver Bells”.
But there’s nothing comforting about City Sidewalks if you live in the People’s Republic of Charlottesville.
If you have a dwelling in town, you must clear the sidewalks in front of your house even though it’s not your property. You must clear the sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops or you will be fined. And you can’t push the snow into the street. So, what do you do with 10 cubic feet of snow and there is a hedge in front of your property?
It sounds nice, though, doesn’t it? Be good neighbor and shovel the sidewalks so strangers can pass by. It sounds nice unless you are an 85-year-old widow on a pension and there are no strapping teenagers out and about wielding shovels.
She will be fined.
The sidewalks belong to the City of Charlottesville, so why should someone have to tend to their property. How about the street in front of the house? Do you have to plow that as well? To me, that’s like demanding that if your house abuts a school yard, you need to mow their grass.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks. That’s the price you pay when you live in a People’s Republic.
