QUESTION
What happens when sidewalk repair requests and claims related to tree damage are denied?
4:02:14
·
145 sec
The commissioner explains that denied requests for the city's tree and sidewalk repair program are based on the severity of damage relative to other sites needing repairs with finite funding.
- Homeowners can apply to the city's Trees and Sidewalks program for repairs without facing fines
- The comptroller's office denies some sidewalk claims filed by individuals seeking reimbursement
- Requests denied by 311 for parks to address tree/sidewalk issues are evaluated case-by-case
- A certain level of damage severity is required for inclusion in the repair program given limited resources
Sue Donoghue
4:02:14
And then in terms of the sidewalk repair, as we discussed earlier.
4:02:20
We do look regularly at, you know, standards and assess standards for sidewalk repair.
4:02:28
As I said earlier, the homeowner can apply to our treason sidewalks program and should not face fines for those if there are repairants that are needed.
4:02:42
And the last part of your us.
4:02:46
But we you know, we're about the standards.
4:02:48
Yeah.
4:02:49
We're absolutely aware of and concerned about hazards and sidewalk hazards.
4:02:54
That's why we work closely with our industry agencies like DOT to be addressing these as we can.
4:03:01
But in also the sidewalk claims are being denied.
4:03:04
So that's why
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:03:05
I was emphasizing maybe revisiting.
4:03:07
So I just wanna underscore that piece because they are clearly safety issues when we see them people fall.
Sue Donoghue
4:03:14
And they're being denied they're being denied by the controller's office.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:03:18
They're being denied by I would imagine it's through the forestry because it goes into 311, and then they're being told that it's being denied when they're requesting for parks to come and address the tree.
Matt Drury
4:03:33
To to clarify, counts, remember, that so those those are requests to be included into the tree and sidewalk program, and it is possible.
4:03:40
I I I I I understand correctly.
4:03:42
That's separate and apart from whether an individual seeks to advance the repairs themselves and then seek restitution by filing a claim against the city with the controls.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:03:50
Right.
4:03:50
So let me yeah.
4:03:51
Let me clarify.
4:03:52
No.
4:03:52
I'm familiar with it too.
4:03:53
And, no, they are not working to do it themselves.
4:03:55
They are looking for the city to address the situation.
Gale Brewer
4:03:59
Right.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:03:59
So in most instances, these are years.
Matt Drury
4:04:02
Oh, for sure.
4:04:02
And it and it may be and that's all, as the commissioner noted, that's sort of done on a case by case basis.
4:04:06
And if the level of severity of damage is high enough, that's when it included in the program.
4:04:11
There are many cases where a request where the severity and it's all relative because you have a universe of sites and finite funding.
4:04:18
So a a certain number of meet the you know, meet that metric and others other's employees.
4:04:22
And
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:04:23
and my staff just also added that the comptroller has also been denying.
4:04:27
So in those instances, what happens there?
Matt Drury
4:04:30
Sorry.
4:04:31
Say again.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:04:31
In the instance with the commptroller denying, what happens in that regard?
Ryan Merola
4:04:35
Yeah.
4:04:35
I I
Matt Drury
4:04:35
don't I don't believe we can speak to the commptroller's process of decision making.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:04:39
Okay.