AKRON, Ohio — The City of Akron is defending a seasonal worker who was caught on camera using a single cup to spread salt on a snowy city street.
On Tuesday, a Facebook user posted the video, which shows a city worker using a single cup to scoop salt from the back of a city truck, then toss the salt on the street. The camera then pans to a massive mound of snow piled on the street. The video is captioned: “The City of Akron efficiently clearing snow and salting one cup at a time.” As of Wednesday morning, the video had been viewed over 228,000 times.
On Wednesday morning, the City of Akron, Ohio – Mayor’s Office posted a statement defending the worker’s actions:
“The viral video of an individual spreading salt with a cup is a seasonal City of Akron employee who was assigned to temporarily block the road and divert traffic for snow removal on Exchange Street. While awaiting a hand spreader to spread salt on the sidewalks, this individual chose to proactively use what was immediately available until the spreader arrived. This was a momentary incident and does not reflect City practices regarding salting.”
Several users pointed out that the worker appears to be on Broadway Street behind the courthouse, blocks away from Exchange street. The Facebook user who posted the video confirmed that she took the video on Broadway Street.
"I certainly wasn’t trying to down play the hard work of the employees out plowing all day and night those individuals have my utmost respect," the user, who requested that she remain anonymous, told News 5.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the City of Akron reported that 100 percent of primary routes had been plowed, 90 percent of secondary routes had been plowed, and 30 percent of residential streets had been plowed.
Residents have voiced frustration about the lack of snow clearing in the city; 12 school buses got stuck in snow Wednesday morning and had to be towed out.
RELATED: Akron City Schools joins parents in frustration after 12 buses get stuck in snow
