Felder Takes Aim at Post-Storm Fines

After a blizzard dumped nearly two feet of snow on our city ending just hours before nightfall—with freezing temperatures and heavy winds still whipping—Councilman Simcha Felder announced he is drafting legislation that would require New York City to clear snow from its own properties before issuing a single snow ticket to homeowners.  

An official post on X by NYC Sanitation on Monday Evening at 4:51 pm stated, “END OF STORM has been declared for 4:30pm! Property owners, that means you must shovel your sidewalk by 8:30pm, including a four-foot path for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as around any curb ramps, fire hydrants, and unsheltered bus stops that may be in front of your property…”  

Meanwhile, large stretches of city-owned streets, crosswalks, schools, and libraries remained buried. Downed trees and fallen branches remain hazardous.   

“That’s not fairness. That’s hypocrisy,” Felder said. “You cannot tell a homeowner, or a senior citizen, they have two hours before nightfall to move mountains of snow—or risk fines up to $250—while the City’s own properties look like the North Pole.”  

Felder’s bill would prohibit the City from issuing snow-related summonses until all city-owned properties are cleared and made safe. In other words: lead by example.  

“We all want safe sidewalks. We all understand the need to clear snow. NY’s Strongest have been working extraordinarily hard during these winter storms, but if the City has more manpower available, hand them a shovel, not a ticket pad,” Felder continued. “Hardworking families, seniors, small business owners are managing herculean efforts to dig out cars while taking care of kids and trying to stay safe and warm. The least the City can do is make sure its own house is in order before dispatching the ticket police.”  

Residents across the city have reported hazardous conditions around public buildings, pedestrian bridges, and other city properties hours after the storm ended.  

“When the City’s crosswalks are still buried and school entrances are a mess, issuing tickets isn’t public safety—it’s a waste of manpower and another way for the city to nickel and dime people who don’t have a dime to spare!” Felder said. “Clear your own snow first. Then we’ll talk.”  

Councilman Felder directed bill drafting to draft the bill after January’s snowstorm.