New Haven Mayor Declares State of Emergency

New Haven Mayor Toni Harp has declared a state of emergency in the city and enlisted the help of the National Guard to clear out accumulating snow.

“We're going to dig out now, when it wanes we're going to dig out again, and we're going to continue and cart out this snow so we can use our city again,” Harp said on Thursday.

New Haven is asking the state and federal governments for help in clearing out the snow, which could come in the form of heavy equipment to haul the snow away, according to a release from the mayor's office.

Residents started to shovel themselves out Thursday afternoon.

“Now [the snow] heavy. It was powdery this morning, but after it started doing this, it became a lot heavier,” said Artie Romano, who lives in New Haven.

In East Haven, DeMars Landscaping was hired to clear out the parking lot of Chili's on Frontage Road. Those plows will be going till Friday morning.

“If it turns to rain, it makes it a lot heavier and a lot [more] slippery,” said Louis Maturo of DeMars Landscaping.

That's why some homeowners from West Haven enlisted the help of a snow blower to help move the heavy snow from their sidewalks.

“This is what we live for here in New England!” said Paul Popielarczyk.

Although his wife had a different opinion.

“This is insane, another snow storm…I'm ready to move down South,” said Kathy Popielarczyk.

A downtown parking ban will be in effect from midnight to 6 a.m. Friday so crews can more easily move snow from city streets, according to a release from the mayor's office.

The ban includes all streets in the area of Howe Street, Tower Parkway, Grove Street, State Street and North Frontage Road.

Overnight parking will be available in the Temple Street and Crown Street garages for $3 per night. Free overnight parking is available in the Granite Square garage.

Town officials are anticipating a second parking man from midnight through 6 a.m. Saturday.

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