Although Lakewood was blanketed with a snowfall of between 28 and 30 inches, within 24 hours after the last snowflake fell, 95 percent of Lakewood roads had been ploughed at least once. Mayor Langert said, “We thought the storm of the century was last year; this one definitely takes the cake—it was certainly more snow than had fallen at one time in 30 years.”
Mayor Langert and Meir Lichtenstein, who stayed with Lakewood Public Works (LPW) throughout the night, are commending the Lakewood Public Works Department for its yeoman’s job in going above and beyond the call of duty in dealing with this storm. Mayor Langert said, “I specifically want to thank Acting Director Alvin Burdge; Tony Arecchi, superintendent; Phil Roux, parks’ supervisor; Jim Casey, roads’ supervisor, for coming in on his vacation; and the myriad of drivers, mechanics, plough operators, front end loader workers; and a special thanks to Dorit Attias for sitting with me in the truck while I ploughed for more than four hours last night.”
“While other towns only had 50 percent of their streets ploughed, 95 percent of Lakewood streets were ploughed at least once by 6:00 a.m. and the other 5 percent will be done by early this afternoon,” said Mayor Langert.
Mayor Langert noted that Committeeman Lichtenstein worked tirelessly on behalf of everyone in Lakewood. “He left at 7:00 a.m. this morning, having stayed for 30 hours out of 48 hours; and I thank him. The people in LPW all worked double shifts, overtime, anything to make sure residents’ streets were ploughed as soon as humanly possible.”
In a storm of this size that raged rapidly through New Jersey, it was difficult to stay ahead of the amount of snow that fell. Mayor Langert said, “I realize and understand that the clearance of Lakewood streets is not perfect; but I do want to recognize the men and women in our public works department for going all out and coming through as much as humanly possible with unbelievable conditions.”
The Mayor urges everyone to be patient. The LPW and the Township Committee are all aware of the exasperation many people feel; but everyone is working hard to clear the streets of Lakewood as fast as possible.
(YWN Storm Center – 2010)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
18 Responses
I’m sorry but a quick run through plowing a little lane isn’t called plowing even once. Steve -who are you kidding? The township got caught with their pants down, like the rest of the tri-state. Stop standing on your soap box and start trying to get DPW to plow all the roads. This isn’t personal, but don’t use the storm as a political boost. The article should state -other local towns had 50% of their streets cleared, but Lakewood has 95% that still needs to be cleared!
lakewoods response has been a disaster of epic proportions. im glad our elected officials are congratulating themselves while i sit at home with my sick kids that i cant take to the doc until im plowed out. ninety five percent is a bunch of garbage. my street wasnt touched. (hearthstone) i spoke to people on east end and on pawnee dr and no one has been touched by a plow. i refuse to be patient for another day!!!! i will be voting for the other guy. thats for sure.
sheker vichozov
What are the odds that my street is part of the “5%” that has never been touched…. It’s early afternoon and still nothing.
I don’t understand why Langert can’t just say “we couldn’t do the job, we aren’t equiped for it” Instead of making up stories about how great of a job was done.
I don’t think anybody blames the township for the cleanup disaster, but don’t brag about what a great job you did?!
ATTN YWN:
I advise you to close this forum for comments. It’s going to get real nasty.
The guy from Nick’s was shoveling the driveway at Second St, a plow comes and yells at him to get out of the way and just drives past. 14th St is a disaster. Look, I understand it’s dificult but really…enough with the patting oneself on the back.
Just in: Menashe Miller has just reported that the streets of Baghdad are 100% clear. Thats what Steve is talking about. Im just being fecious like Steve Langert. I like him alot, but in a time like this we dont need a good orator, we need action and it is extremely slow in coming.
Lakewood roads are a disaster, stop with the biggest snow storm in 30 years garbage, lakewoods neighboring twp’s were all very nicely plowed so the big question is how do they seem to get their roads plowed and lakewood cant? thats what happens when you put 4 frum guys in charge of a town. the Gemara says one should not live in a town which has a talmud chacham as its leader, the Gemara says because he will be to busy learning and will neglect to take care of the needs of the town
steve. i think your numbers are backward. looks like five percent plowed. by the way a quick run through while not going into cul de sacs at all isnt called plowed. every one is still stuck.
95 percent? that’s a load of unfiltered hogwash. the response was pathetic. Do not make excuses. certainly don’t rub it in our faces by congratulating people. heads need to roll
Thanks for everybody’s hard work-but sorry-NOT GOOD ENOUGH-even the streets that have been plowed are not well done?!?!?-my street (in town) has been plowed and everybody is getting stuck and having to go backwards and forwards-Yes it’s a bad storm, but at least b”h it’s sunny and the snow is very manageable, if you wait till tonight it’s going to freeze over and be twice as messy. Telling us what a great job you did is just making you lose your credibility-admit that the job is overwhelming and the reality of the incompetence of workers today. it’s time to call a spade a spade. Meantime try motivating them (beer, doughnuts, races….. :))
STEVE- I HOPE YOU READ THIS YOURSELF. I JUST WENT TO MINCHA IN THE OLD SHUL AND GOING DOWN PARK AVE ALMOST SIDESWIPED A CAR THAT WAS TRYING TO PASS THE OTHER WAY AND STARTED SLIDING OF THE MOUND OF SNOW. NOW BY YOU SAYING YOUR PEARLS OF WISDOM IS CAUSING ALOT OF PEOPLE AGONY AND MAYBE EVEN HEFSED MAMON. DO EVERYONE A FAVOR EITHER GO OUT THERE AND SEE WHATS GOING ON OR ZIP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. THERE IS NO MITZVAH TO TALK. YOU WERE ELECTED FOR A REASON, AND IT WAS NOT TO FOOL YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
As long as you Lakewoodites rememeber these things for the next election. Vote for people who WILL do the job for the people and NOT for the talkers.
I am very upset and shocked. i live in westgate. some men decided they were going to be smart and posted signs in shuls stating to park in parking lots and not on streets so plows can get through easier. they signed the sign “westgate”. me being stupid listened and parked in a parking lot instead of on the street right near my house/basement. 2 days after the storm my parking lot was not touched! i kept calling westgate office and they finally told me the parking lot is not their responsibilty and they are not going to plow it. its is privately owned. so now what?? who is going to plow the lot? my husband spoke to a few people and noone seemed to care. we were going to have to find a plowing company and pay ourselves. there were about 10 cars in the lot. i personally spoje to weinberger manager of westgate and he was fuming that people put those signs up. he had nothing to do with it. in the end 120 dollors later paid privately by us and 2 other ppl the parking lot got cleared. whoever hung up those signs has
Serious teshuva to do. if they want to come forward and reimburse me the money that i had to shell out on my tight budget to get my car out, let me know. and if anyone is thinking about moving to westgate make sure you find out who owns your street and parking area. because some streets are owned by westgate some by the township and some by private people!!! and if they dont own it they are not going to plow it or take care of it! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO CHESED? MIDOS? CARING ABOUT ONE ANOTHER? IS THIS THE BEATUFUL TOWN OF LAKWEOOD EIR HATORAH? SADLY IM DISAPOINTED.
after reading the above article, im surprised at the commenters! mayor langert is not patting himself on the back at all.. on the contrary, he is commending the hard work of the plowers and the effort that was put into clearing the streets of lakewood. maybe throwing out a 95% number was pushing it, but there was definitly alot of effort being put in and that should be appreciated. living in a warm climate, i cannot understand the frustration that the people on the east coast and midwest must be feeling now, but shouldnt people be enjoying the gift hashem bestowed on you, and take the opportunity to spend quality time with family or enjoy a cozy few days in? the negetivity and selfishness and resentment seen from the frum community is just shameful! we should be helping each other not blaming each other. remember, its not about you and your little world , its about the town at large. if your street wasnt plowed, go out and help the township by shoveling your own car out, or maybe offering assistance to those who apparently need it .
WOW… THIS IS THE LAKEWOOD THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP IN? R KUTLER WOULD BE TURNING AROUND IN HIS GRAVE IF HE SAW THESE DISGUSTING COMMENTS. YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES SITTING AT YOUR COMPUTERS THROWING OUT VICIOUS COMMENTS TO A TOWNSHIP WHO IS TRYING TO PLEASE YOU, AND KNOWS THEY AREN’T GOING TO RECIEVE ANY RECOGNITION FOR IT. GET OFF YOUR COUCH AND SHOVEL YOUR OWN STREETS. MY HUSBAND GOT UP AND SHOVELED OUR STREET HIMSELF. I’M SURE THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO PLEASE ALL OF YOU, AND AS MUCH AS IT’S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, THEY’RE STILL HUMAN. MY NIECES IN BROOKLYN HAVEN’T BEEN TO SCHOOL YET THIS WEEK, SO WE ARE NOT ALONE. IT’S A MESS EVERYWHERE, AND INSTEAD OF REACTING LIKE CHILDREN, LET US RECOGNIZE THE JOB THEY ARE TRYING TO DO, AND SHUT OUR MOUTHS.