Since snow has covered this four-season city, this is the question that has been running through my mind whenever I leave the house. The City Council’s decision to make cuts to the snow removal budget for the winter of 2010-11 was, in my opinion, a decision of life and death.

Roads and sidewalks here in Lewiston are no longer safe. Examples of this are evident on Ash Street, as well as a part of Bates — two streets that, during the other three seasons, are two lanes. This winter, however, the streets have been reduced to just one lane, creating a mess for drivers who normally travel these roads.

On parts of Sabattus Street (off which I live) the right lane traveling both directions is so narrow that one cannot help but position a vehicle partially in the left lane, causing other drivers to cross the yellow line.

At many intersections throughout the city, snowbanks are piled to the point that there is no visibility when looking in either direction at a stop sign.

I think that Lewiston needs to find a resolution to this problem in a hurry before more pedestrians are hurt and more drivers are involved in fender benders.

There isn’t enough room to walk or drive and drivers simply cannot see what is coming toward them at intersections and stop lights.

I believe that the decision to cut the city of Lewiston’s snow removal budget was irresponsible and dangerous to citizens of this city.

Mathew L. Martin, Lewiston