Friday, August 8, 2008

City installing new sewers where they aren't needed

The project is outlined on the DDC Web site as an "installation of new storm and sanitary sewers ... water mains, catch basins and pedestrian ramps" with an estimated completion date in next summer.

But neighbors questioned why the extensive work was ordered for a section they say is only 30 years old and never had any major pipe or flooding issues before.

They also wondered why it would take almost a year-and-a-half to complete a three block section from Bowling Green Place to Rivington Avenue.

The cost of the project is baffling as well: $1,697,812, according to the DDC Web site.


Construction site bothers and baffles neighbors

"These are all newer homes," said one resident who asked not to be identified. "We've never had a problem here for the most part. Perhaps a new catch basin would be good because [there are certain pockets of back-up] when it rains heavily, but not all this."

Residents have also taken issue with the quality of work, the greatest complaint being a barrage of water main breaks and a lack of cleanup around the site.


Well it's great to see that the City is spending millions installing sewers in areas that don't need them while much of Queens, which was underwater 1 year ago today, is being told to wait 10 years. (Getting around via public transportation was fun that day, as I recall.)

Comptroller William Thompson is still working on compensating last year's flooding victims for their losses despite the city not really giving a damn.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are people in Whitestone who had their basements destroyed by 5 feet of water. Many of them had thousands of dollars in damage. They've complained for years. FEMA offered them peanuts. Now why is the government responsible for the city's neglect for sewer repair all these years? And forget about all of the extra water from the paved over properties.

Anonymous said...

ITALIAN GIRL YOUR 100% RIGHT AND WHAT ABOUT THE SEWERS IN WILLETS POINT . THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THIS CITY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEM SELFS ITS ALL ABOUT HOW MUCK MONEY THEY COULD MAKE BEFOR THERE TIME IS UP WERE GOING DOWN

Anonymous said...

The Comptroller's full statement on the issue is up on our website at www.comptroller.nyc.gov. By claimants agreeing to the extension, it gives our office more time to resolve this matter without having to go to court. The
Comptroller's hope is to find a more equitable solution that is fair to the claimants and to the city.

Anonymous said...

Re: Jeff Simmons

What would be equitable is for the city to have an independent agency investigate the floods rather than have the DEP tell the Comptroller they are not responsible. How can the DEP's "findings" be considered unbiased?