New York's snow storm slowdown probe widens to include sanitation workers' voice mail, text, email

NY Daily News ^ | January 7, 2011 | Lisa L. Colangelo & Erin Einhorn

[jazusamo]

Sanitation workers have been told to save every voice mail, text or email about last week's blizzard - even on personal phones and computers.

As investigators probe rumors some workers staged a plowing slowdown to protest budget cuts, city lawyers fired off orders to workers to comply with demands from the Department of Investigation.

A copy obtained by the Daily News shows that DOI wants "all employees who have had a role with the response" to the storm to hang on to every piece of paper or instant message from friends, bosses - even their unions.

Some workers grumbled the order was another blow to morale.

"Honestly, the guys are insulted," said one veteran supervisor. "They have been working night and day, 13-hour days. They are away from their families. People on the street are giving them the finger and yelling at them.... Now we have people coming in taking books, taking paperwork and looking to put the blame on the san man."

City investigators also want to know how many miles of roads were plowed and how much salt was spread - along with details on where equipment was during the cleanup, including GPS data.

After claiming last week no trucks had GPS, the city said yesterday that 40 trucks and 10 supervisor vehicles have the devices.

DOI - which is running one of four separate probes into the storm response - also asked for "attendance records, issues related to equipment and personnel, and specific anecdotes from the public."

Sanitation union President Harry Nespoli said investigators have been showing up at garages to grill workers. The union is offering lawyers to members but most are talking freely, he said.

"We have nothing to hide," he said. "Somebody has to find out who is putting all these rumors out there and treating us like criminals."

Santos for News

Sanitation trucks prepare to roll out for Friday's expected blast of snow, but department is still reeling from last month's blizzard.

[jazusamo]

"Honestly, the guys are insulted,"

It's a real shame those Teamsters and SEIU workers are insulted. /sarc

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon and donate or become a monthly donor!

[relictele]

Marxists eating their own. Hail socialism.

[dila813]

They are going to be destroying records and equipment now to hide the deed.

They claimed no GPS now it is revealed they have GPS.

Next they you know, related records for the trucks will disappear.

They should make these records public.

[US Navy Vet]

ONLY a STUPIDA$$ City would EVER make low class GARBAGEMEN snow plow operators. ...CITY PEOPLE...sigh...

[panthermom]

I am insulted by them and I don’t even live in NY!!!

13 hr. days! Whaaaahhhhhh. I know MANY people who work 13 hr. days, not just occasionally when a storm blows through!!!

[Libloather]

People on the street are giving them the finger and yelling at them....

The union thugs may want to quit the bitchin'. The next step involves rotten tomatoes.

[righttackle44]

. . . and looking to put the blame on the san man."

Because that where it belongs, Mac.

[sionnsar]

After claiming last week no trucks had GPS, the city said yesterday that 40 trucks and 10 supervisor vehicles have the devices.

Liars.

[Rytas]

“Some workers grumbled the order was another blow to morale.”

What are they going to do? Plan another slow-down to punish their fellow citizens?

If they’re so unhappy, they can quit and find another job that requires no work in exchange for high pay and great benefits.

People died because of their snit-fit. These guys deserve the finger. They deserve jail time.

[jiggyboy]

Sanitation workers have been told to save every voice mail, text or email about last week's blizzard - even on personal phones and computers.

Only a week into the new year and we already have the winner of the 2011 "Locking the Barn Door" Award.

[jazusamo]

Exactly, if they weren’t gone several days ago they are now.

[Steely Tom]

They are going to be destroying records and equipment now to hide the deed.

I expect we may next be hearing about a "mysterious" fire that consumes all the records pertaining to this affair, as well as city-owned servers and backup storage devices.

It will be described as a "devastating accident," like the Houston voting machine fire.