Shoveling ordinance hard to enforce

I don’t know about you, but I am getting tired of shoveling snow. As soon as I get the driveway cleared off it starts snowing again. I know that’s what happens this time of year, but enough already!
In other matters, grandson Jacob has entered his nudist phase. He is not quite two years old and apparently has become quite adept at removing his clothes. It’s a good thing he hasn’t yet mastered the door handle and even better that he lives in Texas and not frigid Indiana.
I don’t remember if his sister, Emma, went through that phase or not. I do remember when their mother did. She would wait till my back was turned, tear off all her clothes and escape to the backyard. We lived in suburbia and half the kids on the block did the same thing so it was no big deal. It was also summertime.
I am not a winter person. Cold, crisp air is not for me. I despise walking down a sidewalk covered with dirty, salty snow and ice. If I had my way, sidewalks would be self-cleaning.
I think the city of South Bend has a great, if unrealistic, new ordinance requiring sidewalks to be cleared of snow within 24 hours after the flakes stop falling. If not, residents deemed responsible for snow clearance could face fines. The new ordinance takes effect January 22.
The ordinance is unrealistic because many people are simply unable to clean their own sidewalks for one reason or another. Not everybody is young and healthy enough to move snow off of walkways. Some people go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. Clearing snow is best done during daylight. Plus, who is responsible for abandoned properties?
My street has two empty houses. Are the absent owners expected to keep the walks clear? What about the two rental properties on my block? Are the tenants or the owners responsible for the sidewalks?
Then there are business owners who have no excuse. Enough said.
As much as I appreciate people who clear public walkways, I think mandating compliance is one of those things that sounds wonderful on paper but in reality simply won’t work.
Therefore, I will keep shoveling snow off our driveway and sidewalks and grumbling about people who don’t bother. I’m just glad Jacob isn’t here to try to practice nudism in the snow.[[In-content Ad]]