Can't compare DC and Chicago
Jan. 29th, 2009 12:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Obama is on record as saying that DC Public Schools need to toughen up. That they didn't need to close for this recent snow (and Chicago would not have).
Chicago's Mayor Daley is on record as saying that Chicago schools never close. I will have to ask my friends who still live there if that is true. The neighborhoods are more dense, there are acres and acres of three-story brownstones with no side yards to speak of. Many of these brownstones are three apartments, one per story. Kids walk to school, and it doesn't even take that long.
Chicago is colder. Most of the snow that falls stays snow for a while. You can plow it out of your way (onto the sidewalks where the children are supposed to be walking so they have to walk in the streets).
Now, there are a few neighborhoods in DC that are that dense. U street has the buildings for it. But there are huge swathes of federal buildings, parks, museums and other things that don't have people living in them (like the Loop, maybe).
DC is in the ice zone. When you plow, some will melt and turn to ice. Where ever someone walks, you'll get a little footprint of ice. On the warmer days, your snow will melt (but the sewer which is lower and darker will be full of ice so nothing can drain) and you'll get ice.
Chicago's Mayor Daley is on record as saying that Chicago schools never close. I will have to ask my friends who still live there if that is true. The neighborhoods are more dense, there are acres and acres of three-story brownstones with no side yards to speak of. Many of these brownstones are three apartments, one per story. Kids walk to school, and it doesn't even take that long.
Chicago is colder. Most of the snow that falls stays snow for a while. You can plow it out of your way (onto the sidewalks where the children are supposed to be walking so they have to walk in the streets).
Now, there are a few neighborhoods in DC that are that dense. U street has the buildings for it. But there are huge swathes of federal buildings, parks, museums and other things that don't have people living in them (like the Loop, maybe).
DC is in the ice zone. When you plow, some will melt and turn to ice. Where ever someone walks, you'll get a little footprint of ice. On the warmer days, your snow will melt (but the sewer which is lower and darker will be full of ice so nothing can drain) and you'll get ice.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-29 05:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-29 06:14 pm (UTC)Chicago (and Moscow) have a total right to brag about their survival and organization in weather conditions that are miserable. Just don't slam those who aren't doing as well.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-29 08:16 pm (UTC)Because I said the EXACT same thing the last time I was in the DC area over EveCon weekend. We had 1/2 inch of snow and everyone was talking about being snowed in to the hotel OMG. We were looking at them like 'We're from Chicago and we've been driving for 6 weeks on bald tires on ice - wtf is your problem?"
(and for the record, Chicago schools last closed a day for weather in 1999)