Since winter storm Juno began on January 26, the historic snowfall of recent weeks, coupled with relentless cold that has slowed melting, has turned "snow" into the worst of four-letter words in the Boston area. The city spent more than double its allotted snow removal budget in the three-week period of the heaviest snowstorms and streets as sidewalks across the city are narrowed to one-lane passageways. Thousands of parking spaces have disappeared under snow, causing headaches, added commute and shoveling time and occasional violent incidents among neighbors. As the snow events become fewer and lighter, South End neighbors and businesses reflect on the white avalanche's impact on their lives and businesses.

For longtime South Ender Nancy McKinnon, familiar for her glam-casual style when walking her dog and her Catnanny cat-sitting flyers that are ubiquitous around the neighborhood, the mountainous snow banks, narrow sidewalks and slippery terrain have made it difficult to navigate for her personal and business needs. McKinnon, who uses a cane, has had mobility problems for some years and is still recovering from a hit-and-run accident last summer, making the slippery, uneven sidewalks particularly dangerous. "My cat business fizzled in January mostly because I think people traveled so much between Thanksgiving and New Year's. I always have a down after that busy time. I got out very little in February due to hazardous walking conditions. My cat clients were very understanding and empathetic. I managed pretty well I just walk very slowly and cautiously. The fact that the T was so unreliable left me even more housebound. I'm not feeling bad for myself one bit as I know thousands share my plight. I have felt really bad for retail especially in these neighborhoods where they are paying high rents," McKinnon said.
Challenging travel conditions have also dealt a blow to local realtors. Real estate broker and attorney Andrew McKinney reported, "The snow has definitely thrown a wrench into the real estate business. It's been very difficult to show properties. It's hard to get down some streets, difficult to find parking near the properties and home inspections are a challenge. I don't attribute change in business to the snowy streets and sidewalks. I know that it's been difficult for my clients who rely on the MBTA to get to work and to make meetings with me. When the MBTA has been down, I've had plenty of cancelations." Things seem to be looking for McKinney now that the wild weather is settling down. "It was definitely slow during the couple of weeks where it was one storm after another. It's been picking up the last week to ten days," he said.

For many businesses, getting staff to work safely or operating without them has been a major impediment. Tyson White, owner of Roosters Men's Grooming Center on Tremont Street, said, "The majority of our customers live within walking distance, so while it's unlikely they'd visit our business during the storm, it's very likely they'd visit over the following days. Without the T functioning normally, I've had an extremely difficult time staffing the business one, two and even three days after the storm. More importantly, it's cost my staff six days of work so far this year." Fellow barbershop owner Peter Solomon of Tweed on Tremont Street weighed in as well. "The biggest impact we've felt is tied to the parking situation. We've had several customers show up late for appointments because they're having a difficult time finding parking.

Thankfully, Washington Street is viable, but parking remains severely limited on the side streets.

Additionally, one employee who relies on public transportation to get to work has had horrible, two-hour commutes from Brighton on the T. Another employee who lives in Coolidge Corner walked an hour to get to work rather than rely on the T!"

Paul Fox of Spectacle Eyewear lives in Pembroke and drives to his Tremont Street shop most days, taking the commuter rail when it snows. Fox commented, "I try to depend on commuter rail but it is undependable when you need it the most. If the MBTA and commuter rail delay or cancel service, parking garages are full to capacity for monthly pass holders due to parking bans, sidewalks are un-walkable and streets are un-drivable, I've actually had to remain closed due to being physically unable to open."

Even when he can get to the office, the weather often discourages customers. "If people can't navigate the streets and sidewalks, they will simply stay home. Needless to say, it's been very bad for business." He continued, "I am concerned for people who can't physically navigate the streets. It's tough for people who are blind or in wheelchairs."

Carlos Gonzales and Eve Ward of South End Errands have sought to ease their clients' snow-related burdens by arranging snow shoveling and connecting them with repair services. Ward reported, "We've reached out to clients to make sure they have what they need. We make it as seamless as possible for them. We are also making sure that our clients are well prepared for next year. We have established really good relations with plumbers and heating companies before this winter. We work with a fantastic heating company and a really good plumbing company, and they have been giving us great advice over the phone. We have a good relationship with a snow removal company as well."

The inclement weather presents a unique set of problems for the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston. Shelter staff have spent the night at the ARL's 10 Chandler Street headquarters and locations in Dedham and Brewster to care for the animals during the travel bans that closed roads and the MBTA. According to ARL marketing and communications director Ami Bowen, visits to the shelter declined on snowy weekends and rebounded when the weather was calm. "The days that are snowy impact the number of people coming into the shelter. I think the weekend before last [February 22 and 23] was one of the first non-snowy weekends. It was as if people had been waiting for the snow to let up to come in, and we have more adoptions on the non-snowy weekends." Bowen continued, "The team at the ARL affected most has been the rescue team. They have been doing a lot of ice or water rescues. Birds especially have been affected by the foul weather: pun intended, as well as some feral cats and a coyote. We get a lot of calls in the winter about what to do and how to help feral animals and cats. With all the snowstorms, it's had a big impact on wildlife." According to the ARL's web site, the team has rescued feral cats in Boston from heating vents and other structures where they took refuge and eventually got trapped by the mounting snow.

South Enders offered varying reviews of the government's performance in snow removal and restoring access for travelers. Catnanny McKinnon said, ""For the new governor and Marty Walsh, I felt this was an epic fail," added her own thoughts on managing snow and transportation. "Why can't people be fined for not shoveling? Also, why so much (sic) toxic chemicals to melt ice? Can't we get eco-friendly substances so that our pets don't suffer, cars don't rust and potholes are a thing of the past? In my day my dad put down sand." Real estate broker McKinney's opinion was more measured. "I think they have done an okay job. The side streets which are excluded from the snow emergencies are still in rough condition. It also took a long time for some sidewalks to be properly cleared." McKinney added that residents have been doing well in shoveling sidewalks. A young professional who commutes to the neighborhood observed, "Working in the South End this winter, I have never been so glad that I live in Somerville because the snow removal is so much better there."