City Cast DC Where Are the Plows?! Gutting WashPo Layoffs, Appalling Apartment Nightmare
Jan 30, 2026
Junait Deel, a local government reporter covering D.C. civic operations, breaks down the snow cleanup chaos and why communication and equipment failed. He also walks through looming Washington Post cuts and what they mean for local coverage. Finally, he details an appalling Chinatown apartment building and the city’s enforcement gaps.
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Communication, Not Just Weather, Broke The Response
- D.C. struggled mainly because of poor communication and being caught flat-footed by frozen "snowcrete."
- Junait Deel says clearer status updates and earlier contractor planning would have reduced public frustration.
Plow Tracker Gives False Reassurance
- The city's live plow-tracker mislabels streets as plowed even when snow isn't cleared.
- Junait Deel notes that the map has been misleading for years and defeats its purpose.
Account For Car-Dependent Residents
- Recognize that many D.C. residents rely on cars and need clear streets after storms.
- Candidates should address clearing strategies for car-dependent neighborhoods, not just transit hubs.