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Sanitation Workers Topple Gravestones With Snow
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 5, 2011
Modified Jan 5, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 5, 2011
Modified Jan 5, 2011
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With a lot of public disgust over questionable snow plowing during and after the blizzard (not to mention the trash "pick-up"), it's hard to imagine how much more the Sanitation Department could be vilified. But now it turns out that some workers have been dumping so much snow in Midwood that a metal fence fell and the snow has toppled at least 30 gravestones at a Jewish cemetery.
A worker at Washington Cemetery told Sheepshead Bites, “[Sanitation workers] were continually dumping snow there for several days... As of this morning they were still dumping there." It's unclear how many gravestones are broken, because many are still covered in snow. Yana Zhuravel who discovered damage on Sunday said the families haven't been notified and the city hasn't offered to pay for damages, "It was just unbelievable that the city would be so careless and absolutely negligent. The failure of the city to foresee such damage and their failure to respond or communicate with the families about it is the truly appalling part. We all understand that accidents happen sometimes, but when you screw up in such a profound matter, there should be some accountability."
It is the same cemetery where dozens of gravestones were vandalized last month.
Tagged
blizzageddon
Blizzard
blizzard 2010
gravestone
snow
Washington Cemetery
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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