The Hoboken Blog

Time to start ranting again.

Unless you are reading this blog from the beach, you know Hoboken had a little bit of snow this week. Actually, I think it was something between two and four inches of snow/rain/sleet/mix. And while most of the roads are clear, the same cannot be said of the sidewalks. Is this another example of irresponsible and/or lazy Hoboken? Someone tell me before I break my neck walking home.

If my memory is correct, New Jersey law requires property owners to maintain and keep clean sidewalks and ramps that are on their properties. While towns and county governments were once responsible for their own local ordinances governing snow removal, a 1999 law passed in the state made it mandatory for owners to clear their sidewalks. The law, if my memory is right, was intended to address handicapped parking, ramps (at intersections and buildings), and sidewalks but is all inclusive to clarify the state’s position on sidewalks. Failure to do so probably involves a fine; I doubt they are going to arrest anyone for not complying.

But beyond the law, people can (and have) sue a property owner for failure to maintain the premises. Its no different if the sidewalk was cracked and someone tripped and got injured. I know sillier things have happened but its a fact that people can sue you for what may seem like a very minor thing. People buy homeowner’s insurance - different from property - just in case someone sues you because of injury sustained while on, in, or around your residence. Its a wonder that neither the law nor the threat of a lawsuit motivates people to clear their sidewalks.

While walking home tonight, I lost my footing three times; one of them I nearly fell over onto my back. I wasn’t running or doing my normal gymnastics routine knowing and I wasn’t wearing some crazy shoe - it had rubber soles (not leather) - so I had all the traction I could get in the cold. If I wasn’t walking near a fence, I’d be pushing up daises or breathing with the help of a ventilator.

So is Hoboken lazy? Do they not care?

I’m willing to bet that all the “management” companies cover snow removal in their services. Granted, it is often an extra cost on top of their already high fees. But just about everyone in this town has their building managed; condos and the one Co-Op this town has can’t all be run by themselves. I would think that by now - a whole 72 hours after the snow began to fall - the management companies would have cleared the snow away from the sidewalks of all the buildings in town. Those buildings that aren’t manged or privately owned, had the same amount of time to clear their sidewalks and there ins’t an excuse.

Yet, every year I always run into several trecherous sidewalks that invariably make me slip. My wife has fallen at least once a year since we moved here and I am so grateful that she hasn’t broken anything. When you live in Hoboken, I guess you have to expect that when it snows, its like walking running the gauntlet and you risking breaking your neck every time. One day, it will happen and someone will get seriously hurt.