Snow snow snow! (Portland: taxes, airport, moving)

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I agree. Its not just the roads, its the sidewalks downtown, the Pearl basically all over. Heavy business areas with people walking and there is nothing put down to take care of the ice. Im a native of Massachusetts so I have seen enough snow and ice in my life. I know you have to respect winter weather, it can hurt or claim a life in a moment. I am sorry that the environment or whatever the reason is here, is more important than a human life. I mean one doesn't want to say to much when they are not from the place but. It doesn't take much sense to figure out, the approach to winter here is rather disturbing and downright dangerous. When I see the amount of days the schools and business close for this little mess, its amazing to me. Properly treat the roads and sidewalks and get on with life instead of round the clock weather bulletins for a few snow flakes.

Goodness knows you don't want to tell anyone how to do anything, but if they had even just a bit of sense they'd agree with you, hm?

[subsound]

More snow!

[Sprightly]

Thank you Jimrob! An excellent point about sidewalks, people can slip and fall easily and become injured. Enrico, it's not so much about the newcomers having attitude of "that's how we did it wherever..." as simply applying knowledge wherever it's found. People in areas where it's often snowy and icy have worked out the best systems to deal with it because they have to. Why not learn from them? The last report(KATU news) on deaths I heard was a about two days ago - four people dead. To me that's too high a cost, and I don't have the details to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt salt would have changed that but it might have.

I've lived in six regions of the US and I love the Pacific NW the best. Overall it fits what I'm looking for in a place to live. I wish this snow situation were handled differently. And yes I've got recommendations for all those other areas of the country too

[Busch71]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I agree. Its not just the roads, its the sidewalks downtown, the Pearl basically all over. Heavy business areas with people walking and there is nothing put down to take care of the ice. Im a native of Massachusetts so I have seen enough snow and ice in my life. I know you have to respect winter weather, it can hurt or claim a life in a moment. I am sorry that the environment or whatever the reason is here, is more important than a human life. I mean one doesn't want to say to much when they are not from the place but. It doesn't take much sense to figure out, the approach to winter here is rather disturbing and downright dangerous. When I see the amount of days the schools and business close for this little mess, its amazing to me. Properly treat the roads and sidewalks and get on with life instead of round the clock weather bulletins for a few snow flakes.

That's what happens when you have a bunch of tree and bunny huggers running things.

[tiffela74]

ironically, we have had no snow here, yet in front of the stores, on all the walkways and all, is a large dashing of salt.
So, we're prepared, but no snow....me thinks we're a bit backwards here..eh? lol
and get this, no snow...no snow...no snow...an early morning temp of 39degrees, and its been one of the warmer days this week, and go figure, its the only day they have closed schools here. Im a bit baffled.
the ONLY day the kids all wanted to go to school too, since its classroom holiday party day. poor buggers.

[Barleysoda]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I agree. Its not just the roads, its the sidewalks downtown, the Pearl basically all over. Heavy business areas with people walking and there is nothing put down to take care of the ice. Im a native of Massachusetts so I have seen enough snow and ice in my life. I know you have to respect winter weather, it can hurt or claim a life in a moment. I am sorry that the environment or whatever the reason is here, is more important than a human life. I mean one doesn't want to say to much when they are not from the place but. It doesn't take much sense to figure out, the approach to winter here is rather disturbing and downright dangerous. When I see the amount of days the schools and business close for this little mess, its amazing to me. Properly treat the roads and sidewalks and get on with life instead of round the clock weather bulletins for a few snow flakes.

here's a nice example of how someone moves away from someplace that's different than here because they like it here, then think it should change to how it was where they came from.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by Sprightly

Thank you Jimrob! An excellent point about sidewalks, people can slip and fall easily and become injured. Enrico, it's not so much about the newcomers having attitude of "that's how we did it wherever..." as simply applying knowledge wherever it's found. People in areas where it's often snowy and icy have worked out the best systems to deal with it because they have to. Why not learn from them? The last report(KATU news) on deaths I heard was a about two days ago - four people dead. To me that's too high a cost, and I don't have the details to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt salt would have changed that but it might have.

I've lived in six regions of the US and I love the Pacific NW the best. Overall it fits what I'm looking for in a place to live. I wish this snow situation were handled differently. And yes I've got recommendations for all those other areas of the country too

In my view, it's a matter of newcomers not understanding the conditions of the place to which they have moved. Why would Portland have the infrastructure in place needed to clear all the streets and sidewalks from snow and ice when it happens so rarely. That'd be lovely to have, but are you going to foot the bill? Look, I'm not one of those "but that's the way we've always done it" kind of people. But newcomers should probably learn from the experience of the locals. We're not unaware or stupid. We do know our options. Newcomers are the ones lacking in knowledge, IMO. Are you aware that the last time below-freezing temperatures were sustained for this long was in the 1970s?

Deaths? Please provide some hard data on that. So far, I've heard of only two due to the weather. One in Amity and one in Eugene, neither of which had to do with streets or sidewalks not being clear, and neither of which were in Portland. So how the blazes is that even relevant to the city of Portland clearing all the streets and sidewalks with salt?

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by Barleysoda

here's a nice example of how someone moves away from someplace that's different than here because they like it here, then think it should change to how it was where they came from.

I don't want it to change at all, or make it like Massachusetts or any place else. I don't want people getting hurt. We all learn from others. There is nothing wrong from learning from people that have lived in the cold snowy regions of the country. I think Portland may be dealing with a severe winter this year, and Im sorry but like I said, one has to respect Winter Weather. That means the area may have to adjust its methods on how it handles the snow and ice.

[hymalaia]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I don't want it to change at all, or make it like Massachusetts or any place else. I don't want people getting hurt.

you know what? Maybe you like having a sanitized existence but sometimes we pdx-ers like to live on the edge. Like people who build houses on the southeast coast, or mega cities on fault lines like San Francisco and Tokyo. Maybe we ill equip ourselves for the occasional severe winter and let a few people get offed as a sacrifice to the weather gods in exchange for a relatively nice, mild climate 99% of the time! So please, stop citing "safety" as if that keyword is supposed to make us drop at your feet in awe of your "winter prepped" wisdom, and admit what fools we were, and that we should start doing things the way Jimrob says from here on out. After all, who can argue with safety? We can't actually take some calculated risks in life here and there, can we? I mean, SOMEBODY MIGHT DIE! ZOMG!!!!1111 NOBODY HAS EVER DIED BEFORE!!!1111 HOW WILL WE COPE?!?!?!?

btw, this snow is starting to really get on my nerves. But I think I said that two days ago. "snow doesn't stick around in the NW". liars.

[davefr]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

It doesn't take much sense to figure out, the approach to winter here is rather disturbing and downright dangerous.

Then park your butt by the fire and stay home and safe. We make our own safety here. Please, we don't need a nanny state worse then it already is.