After the blizzard this week, the city of Boston announced shoveling meet-ups across 16 neighborhoods, including Roslindale, Hyde Park, and Chinatown. But turnout for at least a couple of the events appeared underwhelming.
The volunteer event, a first for the city, was promoted through a series of videos across social platforms. Comments on social media compared the volunteer opportunity from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s offer to pay emergency snow shovelers $30 an hour.
At two of the events attended by a GBH News reporter Tuesday, only one volunteer was observed at each, along with a handful of city workers.
A city spokesperson said that there were “100 volunteers and staff on the grounds shoveling” but did not say how many of each. Asked whether the city would hold similar events in the future, the spokesperson said, “As storms arise, the City of Boston will scale outreach based on need and conditions. We hope our shoveling meet-up will encourage constituents to continue to work together to keep sidewalks, curb ramps, and bus stops safe and accessible all winter long.
In Hyde Park, Ren Pilinger, executive director of Boston Acupuncture Project, geared up and joined the city’s neighborhood liaison for Hyde Park, Zoë Petty.
He says he usually closes up shop around this time of day, so the timing made it easy.
“Any time that neighbors can get out and really help each other with practical things it just brings the neighborhood together,” Pilinger said.
Pilinger shoveled out River Street along with three other city employees. He speculated that it’s possible more people didn’t show if they were still snowed in. He told GBH News, “I think if people were free and available, they would be here.”
In Roslindale, at the intersection of Corinth St. and Poplar St., neighborhood liaison Josh McCorkle stood with another city employee and one volunteer, Andrew Murray of Roslindale, who was just wrapping up an hour-long shoveling session.
Murray, a Roslindale resident of over a decade and a board member of Walk Up Roslindale, said he noticed that after the last snow storm, there were many uncleared crosswalks and issues with bus stops.
“This was a great opportunity to come out and help chip in and get a lot of that stuff done,” Murray said.
Walk Up Roslindale aims to promote walkability in the square, offering $10 rewards to anyone who submits a before and after picture of a cleared ramp, curb or bus stop.
Murray said volunteering felt aligned with the work he already does.
“As somebody that is a pedestrian, that’s a bus rider, that is a cyclist in the area, you just know that if we don’t roll up our sleeves and do it, then it won’t get done and then we’ll be kind of stuck,” he said.
Afterward, Murray said he planned to stop by Square Root to warm up.
“I’m happy to contribute and do my share and then maybe a little bit more,” he said. “Hopefully everybody else can do that and then and be in a good spot.”
