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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Joseph Casazza

Aired December 07, 2003 - 07:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's find out how things are shaping up today for folks in Boston.
Joining us now by phone is Joseph Casazza. He's commissioner of the city public works department.

Mr. Casazza, thanks for being with us this morning. We did just see some pictures coming out of your local television news station there, WHDH. And boy, it is beautiful, but it's coming down. How are people doing?

JOSEPH CASAZZA, BOSTON COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC WORKS DEPT.: Well, as they say, beauty is the eye of the beholder. It's a tough one. There's no question about it. First time out. We do have, I heard the gentleman say, about 13 inches at Logan Airport. For most of the city, there's 18 inches down and they're predicting another six or so before it's over.

And there's no question that we're going to be lucky to, you know, be able to have school tomorrow and things like that. We're going to have to have at least a day or so.

The factor that, you know, you have to take into consideration is we have a rather large work force, but they've been working since 10:00 on Friday evening. So the fatigue factor is setting in. So that we're going to have to take that into consideration and maybe take a little time off and come back and wipe it up overnight, hopefully if the darn thing stops.

COLLINS: Yes, do you feel lucky at all that this happened over the weekend as opposed to the work week?

CASAZZA: Well, there's no question that that's advantageous to us. And there's no other answer to it other than yes the weekend, if you have to have something like that, the weekend is better, but this one is going to have an impact into the early part of this week, I believe.

COLLINS: A reminder to be good for people who are not living in the Boston area. When was the last time you saw a storm like this?

CASAZZA: Oh, goodness. Well, we had one at the tail -- it was the storm like this. It was heavy snow and all that business and high amounts, 30 inches or so. But it came like in -- if you can believe it, it came on April 1 a few years back.

And the...

COLLINS: You thought the weather gods were kidding, huh?

CASAZZA: Yes, yes, I thought that somebody had pulled an April Fool's joke, you're right. But that one, the difference, the big difference is that was at the extreme end of the winter and kind of dissipated within a couple of weeks.

This one is before the winter really even starts. And one of the concerns for those who do know Boston with its little narrow streets and what have you, if we don't get a whole lot of melting between now and another significant storm, now you've got yourself a real safety situation where cars can't pass each other on a residential street and the whole business with the fire apparatus and...

COLLINS: Right.

CASAZZA: ...ambulances and things. So we didn't need this so early in the season. That's for sure, from a safety point of view.

COLLINS: Quickly comment for us if you could before we let you go this morning about power. We are understanding that there are still thousands of people without power?

CASAZZA: In my city, I'm not aware of that. The report's a correct report, because I know that's the case in other parts of the commonwealth of Mass. But so far in the city...

COLLINS: (Unintelligible.)

CASAZZA: ...we don't have that.

COLLINS: OK, well that is certainly some good news there. We do know that Logan International Airport has been closed several times at least yesterday. So we'll have to see how things how pan out today as far as airline flights and schedules.

We will keep our eye on all of that as well. In the meantime, Mr. Joseph Casazza, thanks for being with us this morning. We certainly do wish you the best of luck in digging out.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 7, 2003 - 07:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's find out how things are shaping up today for folks in Boston.
Joining us now by phone is Joseph Casazza. He's commissioner of the city public works department.

Mr. Casazza, thanks for being with us this morning. We did just see some pictures coming out of your local television news station there, WHDH. And boy, it is beautiful, but it's coming down. How are people doing?

JOSEPH CASAZZA, BOSTON COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC WORKS DEPT.: Well, as they say, beauty is the eye of the beholder. It's a tough one. There's no question about it. First time out. We do have, I heard the gentleman say, about 13 inches at Logan Airport. For most of the city, there's 18 inches down and they're predicting another six or so before it's over.

And there's no question that we're going to be lucky to, you know, be able to have school tomorrow and things like that. We're going to have to have at least a day or so.

The factor that, you know, you have to take into consideration is we have a rather large work force, but they've been working since 10:00 on Friday evening. So the fatigue factor is setting in. So that we're going to have to take that into consideration and maybe take a little time off and come back and wipe it up overnight, hopefully if the darn thing stops.

COLLINS: Yes, do you feel lucky at all that this happened over the weekend as opposed to the work week?

CASAZZA: Well, there's no question that that's advantageous to us. And there's no other answer to it other than yes the weekend, if you have to have something like that, the weekend is better, but this one is going to have an impact into the early part of this week, I believe.

COLLINS: A reminder to be good for people who are not living in the Boston area. When was the last time you saw a storm like this?

CASAZZA: Oh, goodness. Well, we had one at the tail -- it was the storm like this. It was heavy snow and all that business and high amounts, 30 inches or so. But it came like in -- if you can believe it, it came on April 1 a few years back.

And the...

COLLINS: You thought the weather gods were kidding, huh?

CASAZZA: Yes, yes, I thought that somebody had pulled an April Fool's joke, you're right. But that one, the difference, the big difference is that was at the extreme end of the winter and kind of dissipated within a couple of weeks.

This one is before the winter really even starts. And one of the concerns for those who do know Boston with its little narrow streets and what have you, if we don't get a whole lot of melting between now and another significant storm, now you've got yourself a real safety situation where cars can't pass each other on a residential street and the whole business with the fire apparatus and...

COLLINS: Right.

CASAZZA: ...ambulances and things. So we didn't need this so early in the season. That's for sure, from a safety point of view.

COLLINS: Quickly comment for us if you could before we let you go this morning about power. We are understanding that there are still thousands of people without power?

CASAZZA: In my city, I'm not aware of that. The report's a correct report, because I know that's the case in other parts of the commonwealth of Mass. But so far in the city...

COLLINS: (Unintelligible.)

CASAZZA: ...we don't have that.

COLLINS: OK, well that is certainly some good news there. We do know that Logan International Airport has been closed several times at least yesterday. So we'll have to see how things how pan out today as far as airline flights and schedules.

We will keep our eye on all of that as well. In the meantime, Mr. Joseph Casazza, thanks for being with us this morning. We certainly do wish you the best of luck in digging out.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com