New Bedford Regional Airport has reopened after closing Thursday afternoon due to the storm conditions.

In preparation for snow storms the City of New Bedford institutes a citywide parking ban so their plow drivers can easily access the streets. New Bedford police issued 593 $50 parking tickets during yesterday’s parking ban totaling $29,650. $100,000 to $200,000 in total tickets wouldn’t be out of the ordinary in a full snow season. Last year, over 2,000 tickets were issued during the first four parking bans bringing the total money raised to $100,000 in a short time.

With late fees the money could be much higher. The city does offers 39 alternate parking areas and plenty of notice, so there is no excuse. Plus unless you are new to New Bedford, you can anticipate a parking ban for every major storm. The big questions is, what should this money be used for?

There are several pre-planned options that this money will likely fund. First, and most obvious, the money could go back into the fund used to maintain plows buy sand/salt and pay drivers. Winters are unpredictable and it makes sense to put money away for future storms, which also means tax relief for tax payers.

Another idea not really considered by the City is putting this money towards work programs for panhandlers and the homeless.

New Bedford has had a significant, growing panhandler and homeless population for several years now. It seems that every major intersection in New Bedford has a panhandler begging for money. The exact number is not known, but not all panhandlers are homeless. Many live in poverty, have a home and simply panhandle to get by – or feed their alcohol or drug addiction.

A hundred thousand dollars could go a long way to helping the homeless and panhandlers that want help. I’m talking about the folks that want to improve their situation.

Paying a wage could improve the situation of 50 people. $100,000 could fund 9,090 hours of work at $11 per hour. That means 50 people could get 181 hours of work. That’s 22 hours of work for 8 weeks/two month, or $1,000 of income per month.

$2,000 of total income doesn’t sound like much, but that’s first, last and security for an apartment, or two months of decent living for someone that already has a place to live. $2,000 could be the boost that gets dozens of people out of their terrible situation.

Work projects could include shoveling, street cleaning, landscaping and other low skilled jobs. The money would go right back into the local economy instead of sitting in a snow day fund. The City could institute a drug screening requirement to ensure the funds aren’t being used for drugs.

Parking ban tickets are funds that can’t be planned for, so they are not dedicated to critical needs of the city. $100,000 could significantly reduce homelessness and panhandlers each year. If these work projects succeed, more funds could be dedicated to future work projects and a real impact on the homeless and panhandler count would be seen.

Mayor Jon Mitchell, joined by several City Councillors, announced today a package of changes to housing and sanitation codes that would strengthen the City’s ability to bring problem properties and other neighborhood nuisances into compliance.

The first proposed ordinance change would improve the condition of New Bedford’s neighborhoods by cracking down further on so-called “problem properties.” Under an existing ordinance, a property can be added to “Problem Properties List” and once designated, the cost of future police responses can be charged directly to the property owner. The number of previous valid police complaints determines whether a property qualifies to be added to the List.

Under the change being proposed today, the number of necessary police complaints would be cut in half, from the current eight complaints in a twelve month period to four complaints in the same period.

The second proposed ordinance change would improve the ability to contact the owners of certain non-owner occupied residential buildings. The inability of tenants or city inspectors to contact landlords directly has been a persistent challenge at many buildings.

Under the change being proposed today, certain non-owner occupied buildings would be required to post a sign with the contact information of the property owner or manager/agent inside a building’s public area. Non-owner occupied single-family homes would be specifically excluded from the new sign requirement.

A third proposed ordinance change would strengthen New Bedford’s existing “Clean and Lien” ordinance to more quickly reduce the impact on residents from nearby properties with litter, filth, or dangerous conditions. Currently, the ordinance allows fourteen days for property owners to dispose of litter that is a source of filth or is dangerous to the public’s health, safety, or welfare.

Under the change being proposed today, property owners would have to clean their properties within five days.

Mayor Mitchell had this to say about the package of ordinance changes:

“Working together with the City Council over the past six years, we have made significant progress in improving the condition of the city’s neighborhoods and holding the owners of problem properties accountable, but there is still more work to be done. We need to give our inspectors the tools they need to do their jobs better and continue to improve the city’s appearance and livability. Residents and neighbors deserve a well-kept, clean, and healthy neighborhood and should not be subject to dirty or unkempt properties.”

Examples of previous “Clean and Lien” efforts:

New Bedford Police issued 593 tickets and towed 70 vehicles during the most recent parking ban. At $50 per ticket, that makes $29,650 in total tickets issued.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST SUNDAY.

* WHAT…Very cold wind chills expected. The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin. Expect wind chills to range from 10 below zero to 25 below zero.

* WHERE…Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts except for the Islands.

* WHEN…From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Sunday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will combine to create low wind chills. Frost bite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves.

The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a Wind Advisory, which is in effect until 1 AM EST Friday.

* Location…Interior Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

* Winds…Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph.

* Timing…Through the evening.

* Impacts…Strong winds could allow for small trees and limbs to be damaged. These winds will also lead to areas of blowing snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A Wind Advisory means that sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph are expected, with gusts between 46 to 57 mph. Winds this strong are capable of downing small tree limbs and branches, possibly causing isolated power outages. Driving can also be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Meet Nelly Saraiva, 43-year-old photographer.

Nelly’s interest in photography began when she worked for Amvona in Mansfield, which was a company that imported and sold backdrops, lighting, and other photography supplies. Her boss started a form of social media in 2006, before Facebook really picked up speed and encouraged their employees to create profiles and upload images. Nelly bought a camera and started photographing her kids.

This newly found passion developed over the next few years, as she started photographing families and working with other photographers as a second shooter on a few weddings. In 2008, she began photographing her own weddings and in 2010, she left her job to pursue her photography career full-time. During her first few years she focused on wedding, newborn and family photography, but as she got busier she started focusing more on just wedding and boudoir sessions.

Photography has become such a pivotal portion of Nelly’s life, as she finds it so satisfying to be able to capture the most precious moments in her clients’ lives. Whether it is a photograph of a family who may be going through something difficult or documenting a young woman’s struggle with breast cancer, she has been honored to capture those moments in time. She has even been involved with the Van Noy Valor Foundation recently, which seeks to help raise funds for foster families who might not have all of the necessary funds to pay for the child’s expenses, helping them photograph their events. She has also given her time to photograph for many other non-profits and gives away many sessions to families in need and to women who struggle with self-esteem.

See more of Nelly’s work on her website: itsjustnelly.com.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com.

Read more of the Faces of New Bedford series here.

The snow parking ban will lift at midnight tonight; residents are advised to avoid travel as crews continue to clear the roads Thursday evening into Friday morning.

New Bedford’s City offices will be open tomorrow, Friday, January 5, 2018. City employees should take care and take their time in getting to work safely tomorrow.

New Bedford Public Schools will be closed, and school administrative offices will be open.

The Buttonwood Park Zoo will be closed to visitors tomorrow, Friday, January 5.

Activities at City of New Bedford senior centers are cancelled for Friday, January 5, and no lunch or home meals will be served/delivered.

The Department of Public Infrastructure has made sand available to city residents at many locations throughout the city. Residents are advised to bring their own small container to collect the sand at any of the following locations:

Norfolk St & Acushnet Ave
Toby St & Acushnet Ave
Manila St & Acushnet Ave
Fire Station #5 –Acushnet Ave
Phillips Rd & Pine Hill Dr
Welby Rd, North Side, Between Two Buildings
Essex St & Phillips Rd, Campbell School
Saint Theresa’s Church – Acushnet Ave
Balls Corner, Mill Rd & Belleville Ave
Saint Mary’s School/Church –Illinois St
Tarkiln Hill Rd & Acushnet Ave
Police Station #3 – Ashley Blvd
Wilks Library –Acushnet Ave & Princeton St
Ashley Blvd & Princeton St
Belleville Rd & Hope St
Mount Pleasant St on Nash Rd Side (in place)
Fire Station –Davis St & Acushnet Ave
Deane St & Ashley Blvd
Bullard St & Acushnet Ave
Shawmut Diner, Between the Driveways
Acushnet Ave & Sawyer St
Sawyer St & Mount Pleasant St
Beetle St & North Front St
Beetle St & N. Front St
Coggeshall St & Ashley Blvd
Coggeshall & Purchase St
10 Kilburn St
Purchase St & Logan St
Rockdale Ave & Granit St
Linden St & County St, South Side of Linden St
Fire Station #7 –Durfee St & Cottage St
Durfee St & Shawmut Ave
Red Cross, Rockdale Ave & Durfee St
Purchase St & Wamsutta Ave
Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Studley St & Summer St, On West Side
Merrimac St & County St
1554 Purchase St, Fire Repair
Pleasant St & Pope St
Parker St & County St, East Side of County St
Parker St & Rockdale Ave
Pleasant St & Pearl St
Purchase St & Campbell St
Cottage St & Campbell St
Sycamore St & State St
County St & Sycamore St
Pleasant St, Rear Lot of Fire Prevention
Maxfield St & Pleasant St
E.M.T.S. Chancery St, Inside Parking Area
S.E.C. Summer St & Hillman St
Ash St & Hillman St
Fire Station #2 –Pleasant St
County St & North St
Pope’s Island Marina
Third District Court, North Side of Kempton St
Liberty St & Kempton St
Pleasant St & Middle St
South Sixth St & Middle St
County St & Middle St
Elm St Garage, On Acushnet Ave
Buttonwood Library
Pier 3 –Visitors Center
South Water & Hamilton St
William St & Acushnet Ave, Custom House Square
City Hall, Pleasant St Side
Centre St & Front St
Market St & Sixth St
Second St & Union St
Union St & Acushnet Ave
Purchase St & Union St
Eighth St and Union St
County St & Union St
Spring St & Pleasant St
Zeiterion Garage, Acushnet Ave Entrance
School St & Purchase St
School St & Sixth St
School St & County St
Walnut St & Acushnet Ave
Maple St & Atlantic St
Maple St & Reed St
Madison St & County St
Fire Museum, Bedford St & Sixth St
Page St & Bedford St
Wing St & Acushnet Ave
Wing St & County St
Fair St & County St
Fire Station #6, Purchase St
Thompson St & Crapo St
County St & Rivet St
Bonney St & Rivet St
Bolton St & Rivet St
Delano St & South First St
Jouvette St & Bonney St
Howland Green Library, Driveway, Rodney French Blvd
Rockdale Ave & Dartmouth St
Fire Station #11, Brock Ave & Mott St
Willard St & West Rodney French Blvd
Clegg Field, Brock Ave
Brock Ave & Portland St
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Community Center
South Rodney French Blvd, Cable Access Building

From the Yarmouth Police:

“The very end of the Town of Yarmouth Boardwalk located at Bass Hole at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouthport is currently being destroyed due to high winds and ice flows.

Let’s hope it is only the end of the boardwalk that is damaged.

We have closed the immediate area and everyone is directed to stay away.”

New Bedford Public Schools will be CLOSED tomorrow, Friday, January 5, 2018. The Paul Rodrigues Administration Building will be OPEN as well as the administrative offices of New Bedford High School and the Middle Schools.

Other schools closed so far:

Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech
Alma del Mar Charter
St. John – St.James
Global Learning Charter
Fall River Public Schools
Taunton Public Schools
Brockton Public Schools
Westport Public Schools
Dartmouth Public Schools
Fairhaven Public Schools
Tiverton Public Schools
Old Rochester Public Schools
Bishop Stang High School