Culture
CityLab Daily: Why Cities, Not Individuals, Should Shovel Snowy Sidewalks
Also: Making opportunity zones work in Chicago, and the language debate inside Japan's convenience stores.
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Winter wonderland: Let’s face it, shoveling snow can be a bear. Most cities leave the responsibility of sidewalk snow removal to homeowners, landlords, and businesses—and the results are haphazard at best. U.S. cities have typically relied on outreach and fines to keep walkways clear, but the results are far from perfect. Persistent challenges—like vacant properties or residents without the physical ability to shovel—can leave a patchwork of ice- and snow-covered concrete that endangers pedestrians.