Snow comments prompt flurry of responses

A prediction of heavy snowfall led to a flurry of reactions when it appeared Lorain Ward 2 Councilman Dennis Flores said residents could ignore a snow emergency parking ban.

The National Weather Service is calling for another blast of winter weather as rain on Jan. 11 turns to a “wintry mix” of sleet and snow during the day Jan. 12.

The possibility of large amounts of snowfall caused the Lorain Police Department to announce an emergency snow parking ban starting noon Jan. 11.

Earlier forecasts said Lorain and environs could get 18 inches of snow in one storm, something that hasn’t happened in the city for several years, said Safety-Service Director Dan Given.

The city implemented the parking ban measure to get cars off the streets so city crews can plow the snow off the roadway.

The parking ban prohibits on-street parking for any residents who have dedicated driveways; violators may have their cars ticketed or towed.

On her personal Facebook page, Council-woman-at-Large Mary Springowski posted a media report about the ban, which led to Flores’ comment.

“The city of Lorain can’t even communicate with this councilman, let alone issue a snow (ban),” Flores said. “It’s selectively going to target anyone who they want to go after.

“Park where ever you want the City doesn’t have the resources to tow all the offenders.”

Ward 8 Councilman Joshua Thornsberry replied via Facebook and a

chain email involving City Council members and staff.

“Something should be done about this,” Thornsberry said. “Can we pass a resolution of disgust or something? A complete utter disgrace.”

Flores shared the email chain with The Morning Journal.

His response: “The city doesn’t have the resources to tow every car that’s parking in the street …. So cry all you want to Thornsberry!”

The afternoon of Jan. 11, Flores said his Facebook comment was misunderstood and misinterpreted.

With the snow ban in effect, Lorainites who go ahead and park wherever they want to on the street, run the risk of having their cars towed, he said.

Cars on the street may be towed if city workers call for it, Flores said.

But the city workers do not start at First Street and go down the roads looking for cars to tow, he said.

“I wasn’t advocating that the residents break the law and it’s OK, you can park in the street because you won’t get towed,” Flores said. “No, that’s not the case.”

He added some city residents do not have off-street parking available and their cars remain on the street during winter storms.

Whatever the intent of the comments, city residents should adhere to the parking ban because Flores does not have authority

to negate the parking ban, Given said.

The vast majority of the public understands the city is trying to be proactive so plow drivers and emergency forces are not dealing with clogged streets, he said.

It’s “a pretty sad state of affairs” that Council last week took the oath to uphold the laws of the United States, Ohio and the city of Lorain, Thornsberry said.

But this week, a city councilman is advocating for residents to break the law, he said.

The snow parking ban is in place for plow drivers to clear the roads and for safety forces to get where they are needed in emergencies, Thornsberry said.

“You’re talking about basically advocating for people to disobey a law that’s for public safety,” he said.

As for the weather, the National Weather Service predicted rain and sleet before 1 p.m., then freezing rain and sleet between 1 and 3 p.m., with snow and sleet after 3 p.m., Jan. 12.

The temperature is predicted fall to about 25 degrees by 4 p.m. Conditions will be breezy with a north wind 14 to 21 mph.

The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New ice accumulation could be .1 inch, with new snow and sleet accumulation up to two inches.

The forecast was posted as of 3:20 p.m. for Lorain’s 44052 ZIP code at forecast. weather.gov.