City Investigators: No evidence of slowdown in December blizzard

An eye opening report by city investigators dismisses allegations that sanitation workers purposefully slowed snow cleanup efforts during the December blizzard.

According to a report from the Department of Investigations claims by City Councilmember Dan Halloran (D-Whitestone) that snow removal was slowed to send a message to City Hall were in stark contrast to what the supervisors who spoke to him told investigators.

The statements given to DOI by Mr. Halloran were strongly disputed by the two DOT personnel Mr. Halloran said he spoke with about a slowdown, and Mr. Halloran asserted attorney-client privilege as to three other workers he said he spoke with from DSNY, according to the report. Mr. Halloran's information about City employee statements contributed no actual evidence about a possible slowdown.

The 49 - page report includes interviews with countless city workers and includes surveillance video of sanitation workers and snow plows in the areas hardest hit by the storm.

Investigators attributed problems to shoddy equipment, a decision to halt spreading salt and stuck ambulances.