A tale of two curb bills

  

NY Post

City Council members Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a slew of measures designed to reduce traffic chaos caused by trucks delivering goods purchased online.

One of the moves aims to siphon off dedicated curb space for the likes of Amazon and UPS.

The legislation requires the city Department of Transportation to institute loading-only parking spots in each neighborhood and develop “micro-distribution centers.” The distribution centers would serve to transfer parcels from large trucks to smaller transit vehicles such as cargo e-bikes.

The DOT will have to install five dedicated loading zones per neighborhood per year for a total of 1,500 over three years, according to the legislation.

“We have to recognize the dynamics of our streets and how things have changed, especially when it comes to how people receive their goods — which is mostly through packages and so forth,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso (D-Brooklyn), the bill’s sponsor.

A few days later...

DOT work causes flooding

From the Queens Chronicle:

When Michael Hannibal and his wife paid for the reconstruction of their driveway along with the curb and sidewalk in front of their house to stop rain from getting into their basement, they didn’t expect a bureaucratic nightmare to follow.

According to the homeowner, the DOT raised the height of Eton Street in Jamaica Estates, where their house is, as part of a citywide resurfacing and milling initiative in July 2015, the year after the reconstruction. With the street in places above the curb, the agency effectively undid the fix. Their work also created a parking problem: Without the curb high enough above the road, a car parking on the street in front of Hannibal’s home will easily go onto the curb.

Hannibal and his wife filed a formal complaint with the agency that month “with the understanding that the Queens Borough Commissioner and Operational Unit would provide recommendations by August 20,” according to the homeowner.

He is a member of Community Board 8, and he worked with the board and the office of Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) to communicate with the DOT, emails show.

DOT official Richard Gippetti visited the site and said that it would be resolved, but did not follow up with the homeowner, Hannibal said.

In August 2015, the Queens Street Maintenance team found that no damage was done to the curb by city work; Hannibal was informed of their inspection last September.

After the office of City Comptroller Scott Stringer disallowed Hannibal’s claim and said that the city was not responsible, he filed a civil lawsuit against the city.

The homeowner is suing for $5,750 — an estimate given to him by a contractor — to have the sidewalk redone.

Bayside curb repairs taking forever

From the Times Ledger:

Three years after city snow plows destroyed the curb in front of All Saints Episcopal Church in Bayside, the Department of Transportation still has no plans to repair the damage, even after the intervention of a higher power — the neighborhood’s assemblyman.

During the series of blizzards in the winter of 2013–2014, snow plows from Department of Sanitation battered the curb by the church into gravel, grinding some sections down to little more than a sliver of rough concrete. All Saints, located at 214-33 40th Ave. reached out to state Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D–Bayside), who spoke with DOT about repairing the curbs. The agency made him wait a year for a response.

“My office contacted the NYC Department of Transportation in 2014 regarding curbs that were damaged at All Saints Church by the Department of Sanitation,” Braunstein said. “On Feb. 13, 2015, DOT notified me that All Saints Church would be added to its ‘curb database for repair under a future curb repair contract.’ In light of the fact that the curbs were damaged by a city agency, DOT should commence with the repairs as soon as possible.”

But nearly two years after committing to fix the damage, the DOT has not yet scheduled repairs.

“NYC DOT is aware of the curb condition at this location, which has been added to the agency’s curb database for repair under a future curb repair contract when resources become available,” a DOT spokeswoman said.

What can be done?

"I'm writing on behalf of my Mother.

After numerous complaints with NYC since 1959 when my parents bought their house in Queens Village, in 2006 finally the tree in front of their home was removed.

The problem since then has been no curb, a hole & damaged sidewalk which was caused by the removal.

Making a dangerous & unsanitary condition worse, there is a nursing home at the top of the block. Private Sanitation picks up their garbage, after the garbage is removed, they hose down the area to remove any waste that might have leaked, which in theory is great, but the run off produces a pond/pool in the hole in front of the house. This occurs when it rains too.

Aside from the smell, it is extremely unsanitary, unsafe and unsightly.

In April 2016, I contacted Senator Tony Avella's office, who acted quickly on our behalf and sent 3 letters on April 14th to:

1) Hon Polly Trottenberg Commissioner Dept of Transportation.....
2) Hon Mary Travis Bassett,MD Commissioner Dept of Health.....
3) Hon Mitchell Silver Commissioner of Dept of Parks.

I waited for a reply, which never came.

I contacted Senator Avella again, and he sent follow up letters to each them on June 21, 2016.

On July 7, 2016 I received a letter from Senator Avella.

REPLY FROM DOT:

The DOT informed him they will inspect the curb. The location will be added to the curb list for repair on a future curb only contract. At this time they are awaiting a curb contract. However, DOT at that time will also inspect the sidewalk for any defects.

If I understand correctly, nothing will get inspected/done until they get a contract.

To date, there has been no reply from The Dept of Health or The Dept of Parks.

Senator Avella has done all he can do.

Can you help?" - anonymous

Proposal to paint hydrant & bus stop curbs

From Queens Gazette:

A city lawmaker is proposing a measure that would require the city to paint curbs near fire hydrants and bus stops with red paint to clarify them as no parking zones.

Brooklyn City Councilmember Vincent Gentile will introduce the bill to the council this week in an effort to spare motorists from receiving tickets issued when they park too close to hydrants and bus stops throughout the city.

Motorists face a $115 fine if they are caught parking within 15-feet on either side of a hydrant or between a bus stop sign and the closest no parking sign on the same block, authorities said.

Gentile said the red paint would stand out and eliminate any question as to whether or not motorists are parked in no parking zones.

DEP, where are you?

This wonderful site is located at Onderdonk Ave and Suydam Street. It appears that metal thieves stole the original curb protector and it was replaced with concrete, which has been destroyed by something. This is just a mess.

City taking its sweet time to fix Bayside curb

From the Queens Chronicle:

Members of All Saints Episcopal Church in Bayside have been waiting two years for the city to repair their damaged curbs, but Department of Transportation officials say if they’re unhappy to sue the city.

It all started about two years ago, according to member and community activist Jack Oshier, during the winter when Department of Sanitation trucks plowing snow got too close to the curbs and damaged them.

There is no parking around the church, located at 214-35 40 Ave., allowing the plows closer access to the curbs than usual. Oshier said further damage was inflicted last winter.

He has reached out to city agencies and elected officials with little success. “We finallly sent a letter to the city comptroller putting in a claim but that could take years,” Oshier said.

Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), who used to live across the street from the church, also got involved and was last told by the DOT that the curbs would be repaired, but the agency was unable to say how long that would take.

A spokesman for the DOT told the Chronicle there is no outstanding Notice of Violation or sidewalk conditions at the property, although the agency did receive notification of this condition, which cited snow plow-related damage to the curb.

Just a friendly reminder...

I know it's frustrating when people repeatedly park in your driveway, but painting your curb could get you a fine.

Contractor nails advertising sign to tree

Last week I noticed that contractors were redoing the sidewalk and curb at the corner of 148th Street and Bayside Avenue.  They did a reasonable job, and left their calling card: a large plastic sign affixed to a street tree with a nail.  You stay classy, Valenza Contractors! Crappy, I hope you can get the Parks or Sanitation Department to give these bastards a fine for this.

- North Flushing Resident

Service Request #: C1-1-972688591
Date Submitted: 05/24/14 1:55:13 PM
Request Type: Illegal Tree Damage
Details: Trunk Damaged
Thank you for contacting New York City 311. Your Service Request has been sent to the Department of Parks and Recreation for action.

DOT: Destroying landscapes one street tree at a time

This is part of a letter sent to DOT from a member of Kissena Park Civic Association
"While it is understood that NYC DOT is required to maintain a functioning infrastructure, it should not occur at the cost of our important street tree assets. Observed was intentional damages to a healthy, veteran curbside pin oak street tree and several other curbside trees during curb restoration by the NYC DOT SIM program (Sidewalk Inspection & Maintenance).
As otherwise would be required by Parks Forestry the magnitude of mechanical damages and harm to trees roots that occurred, saw that BMP arboricultural planning, supervision and oversight was not provided at this location by NYC DOT and its field crew.
As a result numerous important tree roots were needlessly ripped and torn, both harming the street tree and diminishing its importance to the community- when an alternate approach was clearly available. One may call this troubling treatment of our community trees, "business as usual".
And many from our community wonder why we continue to see business as usual tree abuses by City agencies and their leadership, who clearly should know better."

Bioswales or garbage pails?

From CBS New York:

Some Queens residents say new sidewalk gardens aimed at improving drainage may end up being more of a bother than a help, CBS 2′s Janelle Burrell reported.

The city is spending $2.4 billion to install more than 6,000 of the gardens, known as bioswales, throughout the five boroughs over the next five years. The gardens are engineered to extend five feet into the ground and can hold up to 2,500 gallons of rainwater.

Matt Mahoney, associate commissioner for intergovernmental affairs for the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, said that alleviating the demand on the sewage system will save taxpayers $3 billion over the next 20 years.

But Pat Kannengieser, who said two of the gardens are slated to be added in front of her Middle Village home, said she is worried she will inevitably be the one left to maintain them.

“I see them also as catch basins for litter,” she said.

The DEP said it is paying the Parks Department to maintain the plots, but Kannengieser said the city plans to clean the gardens just once a week.

Okay, these will be maintained by Parks? Does anyone believe that? They don't have the money to do routine maintenance in actual parks, never mind along the curb.

Increased fines proposed for curb painting

From the NY Times:

It is an urban pastime borne out of scarcity, ingenuity and an abiding faith that no one is paying attention.

There is an obstacle: New Yorkers cannot always retain their favored parking spaces.

And there is a solution: Paint the curb or street, as a private citizen, to discourage others from parking. The maneuver is illegal, but often worth the risk as residents wager that enforcement agents and fellow drivers never catch on.

But with the practice spreading in recent years, according to 311 complaints, the city’s Transportation Department has proposed a sizable deterrent: quintupling the fine for “street defacement” to $250, from $50 — where it has stood for more than 20 years.

The department said complaints had doubled, to more than 1,300 annually, in the last five years, often prompted by a curb painted yellow or a resident or business scrawling “No Parking” on the street or sidewalk.

City won't fix curbs

Curb danger in Sunnyside

Council member wants to paint the town

From the Brooklyn Paper:

Here are two laws that would definitely measure up.

A South Brooklyn councilman wants the city to paint red lines on curbs so that drivers know exactly how far they must park from a fire hydrant — and he wants to cut down the “no parking” zone from the longstanding 15 feet to just 10 feet.

Earlier this month, Councilman David Greenfield (D–Midwood) proposed the legislation that would require city workers to paint markings to the left and right of all 109,800 hydrants in the five boroughs. That bill works in tandem with another bill by a Queens lawmaker that would allow drivers to park five feet closer to a hydrant.

“The original 15-foot rule was issued so that fire trucks could parallel park next to hydrants,” Greenfield said. “But those trucks don’t have time to parallel park, they just pull up next to the hydrant. So they don’t need a huge amount of space.”

An extra five feet on either side of a hydrant would not only spare some drivers a ticket, but also create roughly four additional parking spaces per block.

Presently, drivers can be hit with a $115 summons for parking less than 15 feet from the pump, and without a tape measure in the glove compartment, it’s tough for many residents to know just how far that is. That’s where the red paint bill comes in.

The idea seems ideal for motorists, but the councilman has not yet determined how much the more than 200,000 curb marks will cost — and how the city will find the manpower to do all that painting.

Let's invest in paint for this instead of for bike lanes.

College Point Blvd crap pile

"Hi there,

I am writing about the piece of crap at 37-19 College Point Blvd in Flushing.
I can't tell you the actual name of the business because they never updated their signage from the last piece of crap that was there. It's one of those porcelain vase stores. Anyway, I have lived on that very block for almost 30 years.
As you probably already know, parking is disastrous in that neighborhood. But the owners of this business feel they can use the street as they please for THEIR customers. The building was constructed over the driveway of an old business (a long family-run plumbing company that was run out of business like so many others in Flushing) and the curb was never reconstructed. So, the owner still calls it his driveway and late this past summer had my car towed.
When I confronted him, he denied calling to have it towed but it clearly said on my ticket "complaint by owner." Furthermore, they use the closed plumbing business next door as a dump. Literally throwing their garbage outside. I am in the midst of fighting the ticket, have contacted the city, Councilman Peter Koo and even at one point was interviewed by ABC News about the last business who did the same thing. And nothing has changed!
It's so unfair that if you are of a certain race in this neighborhood, you pretty much can do what you want without consequence. I have attached pictures to show the business and the garbage next door. These were taken a few weeks ago and there is actually more garbage there now." - anonymous

Why the curbs are broken

"In August you added a post and my parents got a flyer someone had in the neighborhood that had your photos. They live in the neighborhood. Here is some more fuel to the fire. The curbs were bad but they were totally destroyed when they fixed the sewers....see photos. Taken 6/22/2004" - anonymous

Calling 311 can work against you

From the Daily News:

Queens homeowners who called 311 to complain about a crumbling curb on their street finally got action - the city slapped them with summonses for sidewalk problems.

Seven houses near 157th St. and Ninth Ave. in Whitestone were ticketed for cracks or bumps on the pavement - yet the damaged curb hasn't been repaired, the residents said.

"I was really shocked," said David Provenzano, 32, who got a summons in September.

"The curb is actually a hazard. We don't have a choice but to fix the sidewalk yet they aren't rushing to fix the real problems here."

Each homeowner got a certified letter from the city saying they had 45 days to repair the sidewalk or the city would do it and send them a bill.

"It's a pure money grab," said Mike Donovan, 32, who received a $5,000 estimate from the Department of Transportation for his sidewalk.

"Instead of worrying about our safety, they want to see how much money they can get out of hardworking families."

All the neighbors said they had called 311 to complain specifically about the curb, which the city is responsible for fixing.

DOT spokeswoman Nicole Garcia said 311 received a call about a sidewalk condition but nothing specific about the curb.