Lakewood Department of Public Works Under Investigation
According to the Asbury Park Press, a “large percentage” of unionized employees of the Lakewood Department of Public Works didn't show up for work during this past weekend’s snowstorm. Residents and business owners suffered, and a petition has been started at Change.org calling for the resignation of Public Works Director Alvin Burdge.
I live in Lakewood, so I experienced this first-hand. I'm about two minutes from First Energy Park, and New Hampshire Avenue is pretty much a straight shot from home to the Hawk studio in Toms River. On my way home I noticed that going through Toms River, New Hampshire Avenue was clear, snow pushed to the sides and nothing left in the road. As soon as I crossed into Lakewood, everything turned to hell. Snow, slush and ice were everywhere, random tire grooves zig-zagged across the road, some turning lanes were still unplowed. It was a total mess. Later that day I ran into Brick, and it was the same thing. Brick roads were clear, but crossing the line back into Lakewood was a mess.
I'll be very interested to see what comes of this. If the unionized plow drivers decided to pull of a sort of "strike" and stage a mass call-out during a blizzard in order to prove some point, I can't really be mad at the Public Works Department. If it turns out the department was just unprepared for this storm, then they need to be held accountable.