Along with 10 inches of snow, the first snowfall of 2022 brought with it confusion, outrage and disgust.

First the confusion:

According to the Unofficial Rules of Saving a Spot After a Snowstorm, the first thing that needs to happen is a Snow Emergency has to be declared in the City of Boston.  Although BPS cancelled school for Friday, Mayor Michelle Wu never officially called a Snow Emergency.  So no space saving. We realize, there are plenty of residents who don’t adhere to the rules and put out a space saver regardless – not the best neighbors but it happens.

After an interview on GBH’s Morning Edition with Sean Corcoran, Mayor Wu was asked about space savers and the fact a Snow Emergency wasn’t officially declared.

Corcoran: Yeah, absolutely. Back to the snow emergency for a moment. Does that create some problems? I know we had that whole space saver system in the city after a storm where you can mark your spot that you dig out for up to 48 hours after the end of that emergency. How do you expect things will work now?

Wu: We continue with the perennial debate about space savers in Boston, but are continuing the policy of allowing for 48 hours of space savers when there is a heavy snowfall. In this case, we believe the roads will be clear by mid-day. And so we are in good shape there and looking just to make sure that the morning commute is cleared as quickly as possible.

Some residents took it as Wu saying space savers could be used after “heavy snowfall” across the board.  We here at Caught in Southie believe when Wu stated “heavy snowfall” she was referring to heavy snowfall and a snow emergency. As the City of Boston website clearly statesYou can only use a space saver when the City declares a snow emergency.”

But it was a loophole – a technicality – and many residents in Southie took advantage and put out space savers. When called out, they referenced this above interview.

NBC10 reached out to Wu’s office for clarification but as of Sunday has not received any.

Outrage

This confusion let to outrage on 311 app calling out neighbors for using space savers and public shaming on social media.

Outrage/Disgust

Bacon Doughnut on twitter posted this gross photo of a car covered in trash with the chair (most likely a spot saver) on top of it on West 8th near Alfredo’s.

Disgusting/Horrifying

In one of the most bizarre (and disgusting) incidents in the neighborhood over the weekend, Southie resident Jay Hassey posted photos of how he found his car on Saturday morning.

 

We spoke with Hassey – and contrary to what people where posting on social media – he did not move someone’s spot saver.  On Saturday morning, he found his Jeep Wrangler = which was parked on West Fourth between D and E –  in this condition.  He filed a police report with the BPD and is actively looking for a service to clean his car which he said is estimated to cost any where between $1200 and $1500.

Good Lord!

Back to Space Savers

48 hours have passed since the first snowfall of 2022. Spot savers should not be in use at all. You can’t be upset if someone moves yours.  A Snow Emergency was not called for this storm.  Let’s learn from this snowfall and move forward in a positive way. We have a long winter ahead of us so let’s get on the same page when it comes to saving a spot after a snowstorm. Once again, here are the Unofficial Rules. 

Be a good neighbor.

 

 

4 Comments

  1. Mae January 10, 2022 at 11:26 am - Reply

    The only issue I have that is never addressed is that when I (at 67) and my 75 year old husband clear sidewalks in front of our property and dig out handicap ramps some arse with a SUV tosses all the snow off their car onto the cleared area never picking up what they dumped. Which means we have to re-shovel said sidewalks. Then there is the plow drivers that dump snow into the handicap ramp area.

  2. lol January 10, 2022 at 9:45 pm - Reply

    tldr: transplants experience their first boston snow storm

  3. Scott C January 11, 2022 at 1:30 pm - Reply

    Come on Southie! No snow emergency, no space savers! We’re all in this together. Jay, I hope your Wrangler looks spectacular after it gets cleaned up. I’ll leave a ducky on it for good luck.

  4. E Jammie January 12, 2022 at 8:36 am - Reply

    OR KILL A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

    PEOPLE WERE LEFT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT DURIJNG THE SNOW STORM ON PURPOSE

    AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW – 10 °C

    THE CITY AND STATE DID NOT HAVE ANYWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.

    THEY WERE REMOVED AND EVEN KICKED FROM HOSPITAL FRONT DOORS..

    IF THEY DID NOT DIE IT WAS A MIRACLE.

    ALL DONE BY STATE EMPLOYEES ON THE STATE BUDGET. NOONE WANTED THAT, WHY DID THEY DO IT.

    Of course, everyone left outside happened to never be white. So you have nothing to worry about.

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