Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Blizzard Bungling Sanitation Bosses Were Harvard-Trained
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 13, 2011
Modified Jan 13, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 13, 2011
Modified Jan 13, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
People have been extra riled up and angry at the Sanitation Department over their underwhelming performance cleaning up snow and trash after the Blizzageddon a few weeks back. But maybe people have been too hard on them—after all, it's not like they went to Harvard or anything! Except, they did: several top sanitation officials who are being investigated for the alleged slowdown were sent to Harvard for training—and it was paid for courtesy of taxpayers.
Ten sanitation bosses were sent to Harvard for "management programs" between 2004 and 2008, that cost taxpayers a total of $106,000. Those bosses include City Sanitation Department Supervisor Steven Harbin, Deputy Director Dennis Diggins, Sanitation Chief Peter McKeon and Director John Nucatola. Besides the expenses for attending Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, the bosses also charged taxpayers for meals, gas and parking during their two week courses; the News has a breakdown of their six-digit salaries and expenses here.
In the aftermath of the snow removal disaster, these bosses were told not to destroy emails or documents while the DOI looks for criminal wrongdoing in the disastrous blizzard response. The News adds that the department "couldn't immediately supply the reports city employees must file describing what they learned in their Ivy League outings." What nuggets of wisdom might be stored in these waste-management artisans journals?
Tagged
blizzageddon
sanitation bosses
sanitation department
slowdown
snow removal
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
The Mamdani administration bolstered funding this year and is asking applicants to suggest infrastructure upgrades.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 12:52 p.m. ET
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .