New York: Apologies, Action Plan for Poor Blizzard Response

NEW YORK—With another 6 to 12 inches of snow forecast for Wednesday, the city is continuing to come to terms with the slow blizzard response that left at least three dead three weeks ago.

WITNESS PANEL: City officials speak at a City Council hearing investigating the storm response (L-R): John Doherty, commissioner of the Department of Sanitation; Joe Bruno, commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management; Stephen Goldsmith, deputy mayor for Operations; Salvatore Cassano, commissioner of the Fire Department of New York. Gary Du/The Epoch Times

NEW YORK—With another 6 to 12 inches of snow forecast for Wednesday, the city is continuing to come to terms with the slow blizzard response that left at least three dead three weeks ago.

On Monday, the City Council questioned leading city officials involved in the blizzard 2010 cleanup at a hearing and Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a 15-point action plan on how the city can prepare for future blizzards.

Though Bloomberg was not present at Monday’s hearing, representatives of the relevant departments in his administration offered their apologies, while explaining their actions during the storm and in the days that followed.

“We owe you and all New Yorkers for that lack of performance our administration’s apology and my personal promise not to let it happen again,” declared Stephen Goldsmith, deputy mayor for Operations.

The officials also laid out the changes to take place in their respective agencies.

“As we examine the problems associated with responding to the storm I believe we will find out that there were systematic failures across several agencies and that not one person, not that just one person is to blame,” noted Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.

Still, a few fingers got pointed.

Councilman Jumaane Williams drew a parallel between Marie Antoinette and Mayor Bloomberg.