NEW YORK—As New York City has been asking for reports of unsalted and unplowed roads and sidewalks through its official Twitter account, the 311 hot line for NYC government information and non-emergency services is swamped with calls.
“We are sorry,” followed by a busy tone is all that callers hear after dialing the hot line as of noon Dec. 28.
Nicholas Sbordone, director of external affairs for the city’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, said in an e-mail statement that calls made via local provider Verizon are not going through, as Verizon’s phone trunks have temporarily reached their capacity in certain areas.
“It is not a 311 issue, our telephony system and supporting systems are functioning properly as calls continue to come through,” Sbordone wrote. “Our telephony system and supporting systems are functioning properly as calls continue to come through. ... We continue to closely monitor the situation with Verizon.”
Reports can still be delivered to the department online via the 311 website. If a caller must speak with a representative, he or she can hang up and try to call again.
“Because the city is engaged in a winter storm operation, it cannot respond to individual plowing or spreading requests. Your report of a snowy or icy roadway will be collected and used to provide an overview of the storm situation,” reads a 311 official statement.
After a severe blizzard blew over the East Coast the day after Christmas, the city has been busy cleaning roads and sidewalks. The municipal government said New York property owners should provide a 4-to-5-foot-wide path clear of snow and ice within 4 hours if a snowfall ends between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and clear before 11 a.m. if it ends between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The city is clearing major roads first, then less-traveled local roads.
The Department of Sanitation is accepting additional applications for snow laborers. Anyone above 18 years of age that is eligible to work in the United States can apply by presenting two valid forms of ID, a social security card, and two passport-type photos at a Sanitation Garage site between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28. The hard physical labor pays $12 per hour, or $18 per hour for overtime.
The nearest site location and information regarding the job announcement can be found on the 311 official website.
