After last weekend’s snowstorm, streets in cities across the East Coast are crowded with dirty snow piles that squeeze pedestrians into single-file corridors and force them into gross half-frozen puddle swamps at intersections. But of the major metros, only Washington, D.C., closed its schools through Wednesday, finally reopening on Thursday with a delayed start time — all this despite receiving just six or so inches (plus, to be fair, a treacherous coating of ice on top). And, judging by accounts on the ground, the city remains tricky to navigate by car or foot. This isn’t D.C.’s first such debacle in recent years; the capital notoriously sucks at getting snow off its streets. (It is also home to an outsize number of complainers per capita: editors and columnists, who have been airing their thoughts and posting pictures of unplowed roads and uncleared sidewalks, letting everyone know of the wintry inconveniences.)

Good morning from DC Union Station, where Massachusetts Avenue is plowed one lane wide each way. Eastbound is currently blocked by a bus stuck at North Capitol Street where Metro employees are trying to dig it out. pic.twitter.com/0rRCMNT0ai

Already, the City Council has met to address the issue, promising that new heavy equipment is being deployed while noting that alleys will not be cleared until at least next week. To understand why D.C. is struggling so badly yet again, I spoke........

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