Bloomberg: City snow response 'unacceptable'

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg acknowledged Thursday that the city's handling of the Christmas weekend blizzard was "inadequate and unacceptable."

The mayor, who visited some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, vowed to investigate the city's sluggish response.

The city's public advocate, Bill de Blasio, said his office was still hearing from angry residents "about streets that are not passable."

Meanwhile, on Long Island, there were scattered complaints about the condition of some roads, dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs. But town officials said their streets were generally plowed and passable.

For the first time in over a decade, the City of Long Beach had to use payloaders and dump trucks to remove snow from its more narrow streets, said Public Works Commissioner Kevin Mulligan.

Bloomberg contended New York City had made good on a promise to plow practically every street by yesterday morning - though some will need more plowing to remove all snow and abandoned cars blocked plows on some blocks.

Indeed, just a half mile from City Hall, the tiny and historic Doyers Street in Chinatown remained untouched by plows yesterday afternoon.

"It is still a mess," said an exasperated Bai Shi, manager of the Hip Kee Beauty Salon.

Staff and wire reports