GROSS NEGLIGENCE: The Day The Bronx Stood Still…We Demand Answers

There is absolutely no reason why it should take 7 hours for people to get from one side of The Bronx to another when it would typically take 20 minutes.

Yesterday’s snow storm, which dumped up to six inches—more than the original 1 to 3 inches in the forecast, was absolutely no reason for the chaos we saw and experienced!

181st street at an utter standstill /image by Alonzo Sencion via Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s Facebook page.

From Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Department of Sanitation to Governor Andrew Cuomo along with the MTA they ALL FAILED NEW YORKERS!

Trucks and the BxM7 stuck at the Bruckner ramp/Via BronxShots

When I left our offices at 6:30PM at The Hub, we were shocked by the amount of snow on the ground and even more shocked by the fact that the busiest intersection in The Bronx outside of Times Square had yet to be salted or plowed.

WATCH: NYC SANITATION COMMISSIONER LIES, SAYS CITY WAS PREPARED AND THE BRONX WAS AHEAD OF OTHER BOROUGHS

Fortunately my commute is a few short blocks but many of my fellow Bronxites and New Yorkers weren’t so lucky.

Webster Ave at 2:15AM according to Jessica Michelle who posted this on Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s Facebook page

By the time I settled in at home I began to see the horror that was unfolding across our borough and indeed the region.

A friend left Southern Boulevard near Westchester Avenue at 5:30 PM and by 9PM had only made it to Webster and Claremont. 3.5 hours to travel what normally would take 15 to 20 minutes.

Why?

Because buses and cars were stranded after the city’s poor response to the storm.

The City Council must launch an investigation and hearing to figure out how this all broke down.

Via BronxShots

At midnight there were reports of children still not home from school because their buses were stranded in traffic that just would and could not move.

Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson reported on Facebook that a parent called to complain that a her child was finally dropped off at home at 1AM.

And what about first responders and emergency vehicles? If traffic was at a standstill across the region how were they able to get to those who’s lives were in danger?

The Bruckner/Image via BronxShots

The council must also look into how this gross negligence impacted response times on 911 calls.

Meanwhile not a simple statement from de Blasio to take accountability for what happened.

He’s the mayor and ultimately the buck stops with him.

We want answers. We demand answers and accountability.

Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.