NYC official: Snow emergency declaration missed

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration has told city lawmakers it might have been a better decision to declare a snow emergency during the post-Christmas blizzard.

The administration is being questioned in detail for the first time about its cleanup efforts.

Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith testified at a City Council hearing. He said calling a snow emergency might have triggered a more urgent reaction among all agencies and let the city get a head start in the cleanup.

The Dec. 26 blizzard dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the city. Roads went unplowed for days, ambulances got stuck, and trash has piled up ever since.

Goldsmith also said the city lacks good ways to communicate with plow drivers on the streets.