In reply to Miss Anna Canno Punner.

If landowners don't mow their lawn, the city will take action—in the end going so far as mowing it for them and then adding the bill to their property taxes. I don't see any reason clearing sidewalks should be different. In fact, I'd say clearing sidewalks is more important than keeping the weeds down. Weeds are just an eyesore; icy sidewalks are a hazard to the general public.

Yes, there are landowners who can't clear their own sidewalks—but there are also bus and sidewalk users who are every bit as infirm. I've seen people in wheelchairs forced onto busy streets by uncleared sidewalks, and people who use canes and walkers forced to negotiate sidewalks that are barely passable by fit people wearing sturdy boots. Why should the landowners be privileged over the sidewalk users?

Volunteers to handle odd special cases are fine. But setting up the system to depend on volunteers? That's as crazy as setting up your public schools to depend on volunteer teachers or setting up your bus service to depend on volunteer drivers.