Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
If you've ever been in Boston or some other cramped northeastern city after a snowfall, you may have seen the chaos firsthand.
After they shovel out their cars parked on the street, residents claim those spots as their own by plunking down traffic cones, lawn chairs, or any number of other cheap objects. Obviously, you can't claim a portion of public street as your own, but they do it anyway. And woe to anyone who chooses to remove the marker and park their car in those spaces.
For most of the rest of the country, snow removal isn't quite so dramatic. But it can still be a bit nerve-wracking.
While most cities and towns remove snow from streets, sidewalks and walkways mostly remain the responsibility of residents and business owners. Most municipalities require that residents and business owners perform the snow removal themselves or cover the cities' costs in doing so.
But the rules and requirements governing sidewalk snow removal vary from city to city and state to state.
Here are a few examples:
As winter tightens its icy grip and inflicts us with snow and ice, many of us have no choice but to grab shovels and clear paths for our neighbors. And although you've probably heard this a thousand times, it's worth repeating: When you're shoveling snow, exercise caution.
According to the Harvard Health Blog, about 100 people — mostly men — die during of after shoveling snow each year in the U.S., and many more are treated at hospitals for chest pains.
The American Heart Association reminds shovelers to follow a few tips to reduce the risk: Take rest breaks, use small shovels, and avoid alcohol before and after shoveling.
Or maybe you could avoid all the trouble by hiring neighborhood kids to do the job for an agreeable price. That way, you could just comfortably relax indoors and dream about the coming of spring.