Citing equipment issues and a road salt shortage, Hackensack officials admitted the city "fell short" on snow-clearing operations following the recent blizzard. "The City of Hackensack has recently been tested by a series of historic snowfalls. For many of you, these storms were more than just weather events; they were a significant disruption to your daily lives. We know that for many, the city felt impassable," Hackensack officials wrote in a letter to residents. "As your mayor and council, we believe in lead-by-example governance. That begins with an honest admission: Hackensack fell short." Part of the problem, officials said, was equipment issues. The city owns nine trucks used to clear roads, and of those, only one was in reliable condition. Some of the vehicles are 20-35 years old. "Several were so unsafe, our city manager ordered that they be removed from service, as they were a potential liability," the letter states. "Of the 36 total vehicles in our snow removal fleet, 11 are currently out of service. Nearly one-third of our capacity was sidelined due to mechanical failure during the height of the storm." The letter also states that Hackensack faced a road salt shortage. Road crews used 500 tons of salt in four days. Officials ordered 550 more tons but, due to a statewide salt shortage, received only a small portion of the requested amount. In the letter, officials also blamed issues with infrastructure that the current administration "inherited" when taking over in July. "They cannot be faulted for the limitations of their tools; they did the absolute best they could with an aging fleet that was neglected for years before we took office," officials said. To help resolve some of the issues for future weather events, officials say they've used part of a $1.3 million storm trust fund to fast-track replacement of the out-of-service trucks. They've also put three new vehicles in service that are equipped with plows and are awaiting delivery of additional equipment. In addition to steps being taken to replace equipment, the city is urging residents to comply with ordinances regarding parking during storms. Police handled 457 calls for service during the blizzard, and the city issued nearly 200 summonses, towing 70 vehicles from several streets. "Our workers cannot plow what they cannot reach," the letter states, adding that the goal is compliance, not enforcement. "We appeal to your sense of shared responsibility: When a storm is anticipated, please move your vehicles. It is the only way we can clear our streets and make our roads safe." Hackensack officials say they still have a long way to go but are working toward balancing fiscal responsibility with the need to invest in quality of life for residents.