Paul Sassone

There is one winter sport in which all of us like to participate.

We all love to complain that the government doesn’t plow the streets soon enough, often enough or close enough.

We have been lucky in having a mild winter so far this year. But, as I write this there is snow in the forecast.

So, let the complaining begin.

Hold on, though. Before we start complaining about what the government isn’t doing, we ought to take a look at what we are — or aren’t — doing when it comes to snow removal.

Almost all villages and cities have ordinances requiring residences and businesses to shovel their walks.

The City of Chicago, for example, requires residents and business owners to shovel their walks as soon as possible after it snows — by 10 p.m. for a snow between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and by 10 a.m. for a snow between  7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Failure to comply could result in a fine between $50 and $500, depending on the case.

Most suburbs have similar ordinances.

Unshoveled walks are more than an inconvenience. For the elderly, the ill, those with mobility issues, unshoveled walks are are a threat to their health and well-being.

In winter, as in summer, people with mobility issues must go to the store, to the doctor, to church, to work, to the drug store. But when there is snow and ice they may be stuck.

And that could be dangerous.

Snow removal is a public health issue. Many municipalities recognize this. For in addition to snow-shoveling ordinances, some towns offer those who need it assistance in clearing their walks.

Chicago has what it calls the Chicago Snow Corp. This puts together people who need shoveling help and volunteers willing to shovel. Call 311 in Chicago for more information on how the program works.

Evanston offers snow shoveling help for senior citizens and the disabled. Call 311 or go to www.cityofevanston.org/seniorservices for additional information.

Other suburbs also offer help. Call your village hall or public works department to see what your town has to offer.

But the fundamental answer to the question to snow removal is that each homeowner and business owner shovel his or her walk. And not just a narrow path, either. Chicago requires walks be shoveled to a width of five feet. One reason for that is walkers are wide and people who must use walkers need room to navigate.

We need to start thinking of snow shoveling as a public health issue in which we all have a part to play and not merely as an optional chore we’ll get around to when we can.

And it wouldn’t hurt one bit for us to continue hoping this mild winter continues.

Please.

–Snow shoveling isn’t just a courtesy, it’s the law–