Beauty and the beast (of winter)
I write, snowbound at home, enjoying the fast-accumulating heaven-sent white powder that has converted our yard into a winter wonderland. And that's even before considering the market consequences for the salt industry!
To the north, however, heat is rising in Pennsylvania, over that state's handling of last week's snow emergency. Some may remember the instructive fate of Michael Bilandic. He had the big shoes to fill as mayor of Chicago following the first Richard Daley. Chicago is justly proud of its historic moniker as "The city that works." Snowfighting in Chicago is world class and citizens have high expectations. New mayor Bilandic misjudged in ordering belated response to his first winter's snowstorms and, as they say, the rest is history. Unforgiving citizens unceremoniously ousted him at the next election.
Enter PA Gov. Ed Rendell who as mayor of Philadelphia and through his first gubernatorial term recorded consistent success in keeping the commonwealth's roads safe and passable. Road users, perhaps, invented the phrase: what have you done for me lately? Last week's unsuccessful storm response left thousands of motorists stranded for up to 24 hours and has generated a political storm destined to be longer than the 50-mile backup on the highways.
As the Philadelphia Inquirer explained, though Gov. Rendell quickly put into practice the post-Katrina strategy of accepting blame and commissioning an independent inquiry, both the Republican Senate and Democratic House have been quick to schedule hearings into the manmade disaster emanating from the natural disaster. The newspaper thinks the agile Rendell will survive, but officials at the state's emergency response agency and PennDOT might not.
They say we never appreciate our health until it's gone or impaired. The same is doubtless true about highway safety and mobility. Each winter we get fresh reminders. Hopefully, those reminders need not be so painful.
Still, no plows on our roads in Arlington, VA -- and no cars have ventured out for a couple hours. But it IS beautiful!
