ST. LOUIS — Aldermen on Wednesday vented their frustration with the city’s response to last week’s snowstorm, which they said has allowed residential streets to become ice rinks, trapped older residents in their homes and prevented trash from being picked up, leaving dumpsters overflowing.

They acknowledged that the city’s custom has long been to focus its resources on plowing main roads and key connector routes, and leaving residential streets to melt on their own.

But multiple aldermen said the amount of snow that dropped on January 5th and 6th — and the ensuing week of cold temperatures that turned slush into ice — should have triggered a more robust response.

“This is a dire situation that needs to be solved,” said Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, of Boulevard Heights. “Saying, ‘The city doesn’t plow side streets,’ isn't good enough at this point.”

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