The stupidity of my city hall

[Guest]

Quote:City prevents resident from helping with roads

Updated: Fri Jan. 16 2009 18:50:01

ctvcalgary.ca

A Calgary man wants to clear the road in his neighbourhood but the city shut him down.

Brian Enright was planning to use his backhoe to clear his residential road but when he called 311 to let them know, they told him he couldn't do it.

"I just shook my head and went yeah, like everybody's stressed and on overtime, everybody's out working...someone who wants to do it on their own they're really handcuffed," says Enright.

The city says it's a liability issue that prevents them from allowing citizens to pitch in.

The roads are so bad in some communities that both fire and EMS officials admit their vehicles have been getting stuck in the past few days.

Both departments say they have plans in place if their vehicles get stuck, including backup crews and tow trucks.

Calgary EMS says despite the bad roads, patient care is not being compromised. "Every ambulance has a paramedic on board, an advance life support trained paramedic so the patient on board, regardless of their medical condition, is receiving extremely high quality of care," says Ian McEwan from Calgary EMS.

On Tuesday, the city asked people not to call 311 to complain about the snow on residential streets. Now the city says it is welcoming calls but only about roads that are considered impassable.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTV...hub=CalgaryHome

Quote:The city says it's a liability issue that prevents them from allowing citizens to pitch in.

This is absurd... the city has a bylaw requiring homeowners and tenants to shovel their sidewalks which are ON CITY PROPERTY!!! (technical slavery)
You don't own the sidewalk

Quote:1. Who is responsible for clearing snow and ice from Calgary sidewalks?

Under Street Bylaw 20M88, the owner or occupant of any private property adjacent to a sidewalk is deemed responsible for the removal of ice and snow from that portion of the sidewalk within 24 hours after the ice or snow has been deposited. Where a property owner cannot be identified or where a City-approved continuous barrier restricts access to the sidewalk, the property owner is exempted from the obligation to clear the sidewalk.

In order to conduct its operations in a timely and cost effective manner, The City of Calgary, Roads keeps an inventory of the sidewalks it clears, and prioritizes its snow and ice control activities based on a set of criteria. The City of Calgary is also subject to Alberta's Municipal Government Act (R.S.A. 2000 c.M-26), which requires municipalities to keep roads and sidewalks in a reasonable state of repair.

Consider becoming a "Snow Angel" by helping neighbours in need, especially seniors, with snow removal this winter. Take a few extra minutes when shovelling your own sidewalk to shovel a neighbour's sidewalks and to keep them clear, ice-free and safe.

4. Can property owners be fined for failing to remove snow and ice from a sidewalk?

If a property owner or occupant does not remove snow and ice from a sidewalk adjacent to their property within 24 hours of a snowfall, The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services may issue a warning notice directing the property owner or occupant to clear the sidewalk within a certain period of time. If the sidewalk is not cleared within that time, The City may have the snow and ice removed from the sidewalk at the property owner's expense. Actual costs vary depending on the length of the sidewalk and the amount of ice and snow to be removed. Animal & Bylaw Services typically acts on snow and ice removal concerns on a complaint basis.

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gat...ontrol+FAQs.htm

Isn't that the stupidest thing you've every heard?

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yeah it is. the first is tantamount to territorial pissing under the guise of health and safety and the second is seemingly the same territorial concern with a double standard defacto plantation owner mentality tweak thrown in. total mind control behind the mask of civilisation. imo.


I've always thought the motto: 'reclaim the streets' had a nice ring to it :D

[Hans Olo]

Quote:Calgary EMS says despite the bad roads, patient care is not being compromised. "Every ambulance has a paramedic on board, an advance life support trained paramedic so the patient on board, regardless of their medical condition, is receiving extremely high quality of care," says Ian McEwan from Calgary EMS.

So those paramedics training is SO DAMN GOOD, that it even makes up for the bad roads. How does that even remotely make sense?

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Quote:

Quote:Calgary EMS says despite the bad roads, patient care is not being compromised. "Every ambulance has a paramedic on board, an advance life support trained paramedic so the patient on board, regardless of their medical condition, is receiving extremely high quality of care," says Ian McEwan from Calgary EMS.

So those paramedics training is SO DAMN GOOD, that it even makes up for the bad roads. How does that even remotely make sense?

I think the implication is - "don't worry that it takes 20 minutes longer to get to the hospital, it makes no difference really" or some such shite, or perhaps " don't worry folks, they won't drop the cardio shock pads even if it is a bumpy ride"