CAN YOU HANDLE THIS?

With the winter weather system moving through Washington DC and New York City, it's only appropriate that a discussion be held about the way each city handles inclement weather.

Before we begin, let me be honest--this is actually going to be a discussion about how Washington DC cannot handle inclement weather. New York's tough guy attitude actually holds true when battling Mother Nature.

Washington DC is a great city that can handle many things. The nation's capital has faced corruption in local politics, underperformance in public schools, and deterioration in neighborhoods. It has weathered through an inauguration with unbelievable attendance as an administration filled with bloopers and blunders was escorted out. Resilient and determined, it is and will always be the backbone of our nation.

But when it comes to dealing with a little bit of snow or some heavy rain, my money is on any other city.

Here are the top three reasons why DC falls to the bottom of the list during a storm:

3) CLOSURES - While this may be favorable for students, so many DC businesses calls quits the minute flurries start picking up. So that means, no food deliveries, no dry cleaning, no nothing. Don't get me wrong; I am a huge fan of the couch potato lifestyle. But when I can't get my traditional chinese food delivery in celebration of the first snow of the season, I begin to question why I have the day off in the first place.

2) ROADS/SIDEWALKS - Along the same lines, DC administration does not have the capabilities to properly plow and salt streets. While other cities (ahem, NYC) are ready within hours, DC slips into Lucille Ball mode. You know, that episode when she works at the chocolate factory and as the assembly line moves faster, she freaks out and begins stuffing the chocolates in her pocket, her shirt, her mouth. DC, that is you.

1) DRIVERS - DC automobile users lose all control when it is anything but clear. Snow, drizzle, cats, dogs, men--it doesn't matter. All the DC/Virginia/Maryland drivers tuck their common sense away in the dashboard. With their feet constantly on the break pedal, they tap it every two seconds. No one knows what to do during 4-way stops, yellow lights become red lights, and the speed limit drops to 10 mph. Oy gevalt.

Even the most popular new kid on the block feels the same...

http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0109/Obama_girls_cant_believe_school_cancelled_.html

I can picture NYC saying to DC, "How you doin'?"