Obscure Law Hinders Snow Clearing Efforts on Long Island

If you’re wondering why it seems to be taking a lifetime to clear away the snow from the roads on Long Island, you may be able to blame an obscure state statue passed in 1936.  This law limits how much money towns are permitted to spend on heavy machinery, which happens to include snow plows and the like.  For example, the state of Smithtown is only allowed to spend $800,000 a year on this type of equipment.  Considering that just one plow can cost $300,000, that really limits the resources any given town on Long Island has to combat the snow conditions. 

What about private contractors with their own plows?  These types of plows are not effective enough to deal with the worst of the snow.  Many of the private snow plow operators who have been attempting to clear out the snow have actually become stuck in the snow, contributing to the problem instead of solving it.  The situation is so bad that the highway chief of Brookhaven was forced to resign from his post owing to all the criticism directed his way.  While one might think this would drive some reform, so far there has been little support for an increase in spending limits.

Ralph C Recent Columns | E-Mail Also Read: Plein Air Peconic VII Bellone Calls for Rebuilding in Suffolk State of the County Address Long Island Home Destroyed by Gas Leak Explosion Long Island Man Discovers Artworks Worth $30 Million in Basement

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