Cambridge snow woes: Residents call for clear streets and sidewalks, question new city campaign
CBC
Some Cambridge residents are questioning the city’s new winter campaign featuring AI-generated characters, saying it does not properly address ongoing issues with snow clearing in the city.
“This is ridiculously immature,” said Barbara Harrington in a comment on Facebook. “This will just frustrate many adults and taxpaying homeowners.”
The city launched the campaign which features “Lenny Lend a Hand," a friendly, AI-generated moose. A picture of Lenny the moose was posted to social media on Monday to announce the new "Lenny Awards," encouraging residents to recognize neighbours who show kindness during harsh winter conditions.
Residents can nominate neighbours through the city’s social media channels or via email for a chance to win prizes, including a snowblower.
While the campaign aims to promote positivity, it has drawn criticism from some locals.
“It left a feeling of, you residents suck. This is why. Be like Lenny next time,” Nicholas Di Varano told CBC News.
Earlier this month, the city posted about “Ivan Impatient,” an AI-generated tiger that drew criticism for joking about residents expecting streets to be cleared immediately after a snowfall.
The campaign also features a cast of “digital villains,” AI-generated animal characters based on common winter complaints reported by residents. These include characters such as Peter Parks Too Long, representing people who ignore snow event parking restrictions, and Chris Cruise Control, representing drivers who do not adjust to road conditions.
Resident Hillary Andrews told CBC News the use of artificial intelligence to create the posts "is tone deaf."
It "feels like the city is laughing at residents bringing up safety concerns that seem to be gnored,” Andrews said.
She added that snow removal this year has been inadequate. She says some streets are plowed only partially or not at all, and sidewalks are left uncleared.
“Why are taxes constantly being raised for less and less city work like plowing?” she said.
City officials have defended the initiative as a new way to communicate winter safety messages. The campaign also comes after the city says it has received hundreds of messages from people with snow-related concerns.
The top five concerns raised between November and earlier this month included:
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