Allentown neighborhood launches snow-clearing program

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Residents and businesses in Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood are launching a new effort to clear sidewalks when it snows.

There is not much snow currently in Allentown, but when snow arrives the Allentown Association said that it's a safety issue with businesses and residents not shoveling their sidewalks.

This is why the Allentown Association is launching the Allentown snow clearing pilot. Residents can sign up and volunteer to shovel or snow blow to clear sidewalks in Allentown when it snows. All you have to do is give your name and tell the association what day and time you plan to pitch in.

"There's a lot of out-of-town landlords that own some properties around here, so if they are derelict in their duty by removing ice and snow then it builds up over the winter ... this is our most-walkable historic neighborhood, it's the most-dense neighborhood and so it shouldn't be too hard to rally support to get snow removed," said Mickey Harmon, co-owner of Good Stuff Gallery and Gift.

The Allentown Association said it hopes to get enough people to sign up and show City Hall that this program has real traction, and then apply for funding to run the program. The Allentown Association has set up a snow clearing pilot committee to address snow concerns in the neighborhood.

"What we're hoping to do is get a bunch of people to band together. And if the city's going to sit on its hands, we're not going to," Harmon said.

If you are interested in the Allentown Snow Clearing Pilot, you can contact the Allentown Association by emailing committee member Rachel Mitchell-Spade at: Rachelmarie1031@gmail.com