The City's Unconventional Cleanup Crew: Philly Taps into Work Program to Tackle Snow Removal
In the wake of Winter Storm Fern, Philadelphia has deployed 238 paid workers from its Same Day Work and Pay program to clear snow and ice from streets, sidewalks, and curbs. The city plans to continue utilizing this initiative until every street is addressed.
Mayor Cherelle Parker emphasized that this job will take time, saying, "You can expect Philadelphia to see more of an impact in the coming days." The focus on key areas such as ADA ramps, community centers, schools, commercial corridors, and high-pedestrian SEPTA stops will help ensure the city functions at 1,000% capacity.
The workers are earning $25 per hour, with additional support provided if needed. Laborers in this program typically work for 3.5 hours, receiving payment immediately upon completion of their shift.
This initiative was originally established by Mural Arts Philadelphia in 2019 to provide low-to-no-barrier work opportunities for individuals experiencing economic insecurity or other challenges. The city has also leveraged over 1,000 employees and 800 pieces of equipment to aid in cleanup efforts, which have been significantly amplified compared to the last major winter storm in 2020.
As temperatures remain sub-freezing, the city's emergency response protocols face added challenges. A shipment of road salt is being delayed due to icy conditions on the Delaware River, further exacerbating the situation. Dominick Mireles, director of the Office of Emergency Management, stated that the city is still under emergency conditions and urged caution against venturing onto ice-covered areas.
With temperatures expected to remain in the 20s for the remainder of the week, the cleanup efforts will continue to be crucial.
In the wake of Winter Storm Fern, Philadelphia has deployed 238 paid workers from its Same Day Work and Pay program to clear snow and ice from streets, sidewalks, and curbs. The city plans to continue utilizing this initiative until every street is addressed.
Mayor Cherelle Parker emphasized that this job will take time, saying, "You can expect Philadelphia to see more of an impact in the coming days." The focus on key areas such as ADA ramps, community centers, schools, commercial corridors, and high-pedestrian SEPTA stops will help ensure the city functions at 1,000% capacity.
The workers are earning $25 per hour, with additional support provided if needed. Laborers in this program typically work for 3.5 hours, receiving payment immediately upon completion of their shift.
This initiative was originally established by Mural Arts Philadelphia in 2019 to provide low-to-no-barrier work opportunities for individuals experiencing economic insecurity or other challenges. The city has also leveraged over 1,000 employees and 800 pieces of equipment to aid in cleanup efforts, which have been significantly amplified compared to the last major winter storm in 2020.
As temperatures remain sub-freezing, the city's emergency response protocols face added challenges. A shipment of road salt is being delayed due to icy conditions on the Delaware River, further exacerbating the situation. Dominick Mireles, director of the Office of Emergency Management, stated that the city is still under emergency conditions and urged caution against venturing onto ice-covered areas.
With temperatures expected to remain in the 20s for the remainder of the week, the cleanup efforts will continue to be crucial.
. They're already dealing with a lot of issues and now they gotta tackle snow removal too? But hey, $25 an hour is pretty decent for those guys 
. It's also good to see the city working together with Mural Arts Philly, that's actually a really cool program. The thing that's got me thinking though is why it took so long for them to deploy more workers...I mean we've had winter storms in Philly before and they didn't have this problem back then 
. Still, I guess you can't plan for every scenario, especially when you're dealing with icy roads and delays like that 
.
. I mean, $25 an hour isn't bad at all and it's awesome they're supporting these workers who really need a boost 
. Fingers crossed they get that road salt shipment sorted soon!
I'm glad they're utilizing this program to get more people on the streets working, it's about time we prioritize our residents' safety and well-being over just a pretty snow-covered city. 238 paid workers is crazy! $25/hour is not bad either, hope they stay motivated. 
snow removal is such a big deal esp with all the elderly ppl and kids out there its not cool that they have to go through this 
but i gotta give props to mayor cherelle parker and her team for stepping up and getting these paid workers in ASAP 
its not easy finding jobs, especially during winter when temps are freezing like crazy
but seriously, i hope everything gets sorted out soon and ppl can get back to their daily lives without worrying about ice and snow all the time 
