Shakeup in Seattle Transportation Department

SEATTLE — Criticism of the way Seattle street crews responded to heavy snow in December has led Mayor Greg Nickels to shake up the city’s Transportation Department.

The director of street maintenance, Paul Jackson Jr., has been moved to another job and the city is looking for another manager to lead the division’s response to severe weather.

Nickels also announced Thursday that the department director, Grace Crunican, is on notice to ensure progress is made on personnel and management.

Nickels called the work environment in the street maintenance division “divisive and unhealthy.”