“When it comes to the weather, folks in Washington don’t seem to be able to handle things,” Obama said, joking about the first snowfall that blanketed the district with snow and ice Tuesday and overnight. “We are going to have to apply some toughness to this town.”On one hand, I can relate. I grew up near Chicago and I can't remember school ever being shut for show. One of my favorite memories is the day that we had an ice storm and, instead of walking the mile or so to school, I laced up my ice skates and was able to skate the entire way to school! Wow, that was fun. But now I live in the South and I've seen how the whole city panics and shuts down with a few inches of snow. And when we had an ice story four years ago, it took me close to nine hours to drive what is normally a 20 minute drive home from school. If Washington is anything like Raleigh, it's just not equipped to handle snow and ice the way Chicago is. Drivers don't get chains on their tires. They don't even think of getting snow tires. And whenever we have winter weather, officials and reporters take to the airways begging people not to venture out unless it's absolutely necessary because the authorities just can't handle the traffic problems that ensue when inexperienced drivers try to drive on ice.
Malia and Sasha Obama had the day off because of the snow today -- their new school, Sidwell Friends, canceled classes due to the inclement weather.
“As my children pointed out in Chicago, school is never canceled,” Obama said of his Midwest hometown’s ease at handling bad weather. “In fact, my 7-year-old pointed out that you would go outside for recess. You wouldn’t even stay indoors.”
There's a lot that Obama could knock about the District of Columbia, but he should laying off his kids' school because they take the safe way out and close down when the driving could be treacherous.
9 comments:
Here in Maine, they are very used to snow and ice, and well prepared for it. Even so, when we get a bad storm (such as we did yesterday, 1/28), they close schools and many businesses, cancel meetings and classes. It is a safety precaution, and sensible to me.
Maybe the problem is not DC, but Chicago -- they don't have the good sense to be cautious?
I'm not interested in second guessing someone else making a call regarding the safety of children but Obama, no stranger to DC, needs to look no further than the farcical practice of "weather" related government shutdowns as an example of the culture in this town that accepts any excuse available to avoid doing what must be done. Looking for excuses seems to get the priority over finding solutions regardless of the issue.
The streets were no big deal this time around thanks to the road crews yet many people seized the opportunity to stay away from their government jobs. We had people calling in to say that they were "snowed in" yet we had other people coming from the very same areas and using the same roads report that they had no problems getting through.
It is a cultural condition in this city that impedes progress and Obama needs to address it.
In Dallas we have that occasional ice storm. The cities around here have gotten better about having sand and ash stored but that is about it. Northerners who have not been down here pooh,pooh, our panic, but then when the all electric heated houses we have here loose power because of all the trees falling on the power lines and the realization that only the main drags get treatment they get a bit more quite. It is best just to stay home and watch the TV showing people that think four wheel drive will let them drive on ice. Best one was watching a tire chained city bus sliding down hill through a T intersection and off the road.
This is another case of 'darned if you do and darned if you don't' for superintendents. If they call off school and have to make that day up in June, parents complain about ruining kids' summers. If they don't call off school and a kid or employee is injured getting to school, parents blame them for making them go through horrible weather (even if it was an inch of rain or snow) to get there. Kids' and employees' wellbeing always is number one on the decision making list.
Every time we have a snow in Raleigh, the Yankees start complaining (as is their wont) about the snow removal practices. I agree, some improvement is needed. I propose we plow only the northbound lanes.
I think this is more of a reflection on Obama's kids geting used to a new environment.
Of course, because Obama's was so busy the last 2+ years running for president - I'm sure he wasn't around for any other ice storms since he's been elected to the Senate.
Well, it's one thing if you have a snow day in Las Vegas where most of the snow plows are in the Mountains, but in DC? Really?
Maybe all the hot air normally keeps things from freezing up...
I e-mailed the Tribune emergency closing staff and they just responded by saying massive school closings have happened 3-4 imes this winter.
davod,
That's just further proof of "Global Warming". DC will be forced to consider Prius snow plows next.
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