Parking ban lifted, many scramble to find spots

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A lot of snow remains, but things are starting to get back to normal in Boston. Seventy-two hours after the blizzard blew out of town, the snow emergency is over, and the parking ban has been lifted.

In South Boston, where spots are marked with practically anything you can find, residents are now on notice -- those flower pots will only hold your prized spot until Thursday afternoon.

The cleanup will continue; public works crews have already removed more than 13,000 loads of snow from roads. But Mayor Tom Menino says they could have worked quicker.

“I was somewhat frustrated because I demand the best, especially when it comes to public works. I mean, that’s an issue that people of Boston depend on -- us doing a good job -- and I think we did a decent job,” Mayor Menino said.

Boston residents understand how tall a task was at hand.

“It was slow for sure, they didn’t get to our house until last night. But I kind of sympathize with how much snow there was,” a Boston resident said.

For kids, the mini-vacation is now over; no more snow days for now.

Boston schools are back open on Wednesday and parents are embracing the news.

“Sad for kids, great for us, back to work for me of course,” one man said.

From Saturday morning until Tuesday morning, the city handed out more than 500 citations to people who didn’t properly clear out their sidewalk, or threw snow into the street.