When a truck with D.C. government insignia and a bed full of salt remained parked on the 1500 block of Allison Street NW for almost two weeks, Louis Wassel and his neighbors thought perhaps the city had started giving individual neighborhoods salt trucks as part of a new DIY clean-up initiative. Wassel was rolling up his sleeves, readying to help.

But when City Desk contacted DPW earlier this week, turns out the truck was just broken down. It has since been towed.

DPW spokesperson Linda Grant thought the idea of a neighborhood truck made a lot of sense, though.

“Considering what it has been like with the snowstorms and ice storms,” Grant says, “that might be a good idea.”

Photo courtesy of Louis Wassel