Friday, October 16, 2015

Bill may force utilities to repair streets they destroy

From the Daily News:

Utility companies that trash streets while doing underground work would face jacked up fines under legislation being introduced in the City Council.

When companies like Con Ed, Time Warner and Verizon tear up streets to do utility work, they’re required to repave the road and leave it in good shape.

But Councilman Dan Garodnick said there are frequent complaints that streets are left unevenly paved, marred with potholes, or strewn with debris.

The bill he is sponsoring would double fines from $5,000 to $10,000 for violations like digging up a street without a permit, repaving a street improperly, or blocking a fire hydrant or bus stop.

Fines would jump from $1,000 to $5,000 for improperly installing curbs, failing to remove debris, and similar violations.

10 comments:

(sarc) said...

Just another shakedown. The cost of doing business.

The council members will bloviate about fixing something.

We know the costs get handed down to YOU, the consumer.

AND the city council has more of your money to waste...

Anonymous said...

One would think that a law was already in place.

Jackson Heights Johnny said...

Law or no law.... how is the city going to monitor every location where utilities are working. The utilities are working (and loafing) in every borough. Who will be keeping tabs on each location, and what was done, and what needs to be done....

Jeez!

Anonymous said...

"We know the costs get handed down to YOU, the consumer."
Got that right! Of course we also pay when our vehicle suspensions are shot to hell.

Anonymous said...

Corona, Queens

The contractors that are hired by National Grid & Con Edison to do these jobs dont give two cents about about what they leave behind once the job is done. They fill up holes with asphalt because its cheaper instead of cement. They leave cones and materials behind and when you call the utility so that they can come by and take back they're junk you can't get thru the line. Some of the shoddy work they are doing in Queens right now you will never see done in Manhattan.

Camel bladder said...

And who will pay these new fines when the government, like the DEP or the MTA fuck up the streets. Oh, and remember, public service companies like con Ed or national grid simply add penalty costs to their cost of doing business and then the Public Service Commision must let them recover their costs in the rate they are allowed to charge their customers. The only way to truly punish a privately owned utility company for bad behavior is to make sure that fines are taken out of shareholder dividends and not permitted to be charged back into their rate tariffs. But then these politicians know this or at least they should. They simply propose legislation like this to make the sheeple feel better.

Anonymous said...

CRACK DOWN ON THESE BITCHES!!!

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/councilmembers-move-crack-bad-actor-contractors-article-1.2398672

Anonymous said...

my mechanic likes it

CQ said...

These corporations do not give a crap if the job is done properly. They use cheap materials and like Corona, Queens said..leave all materials behind. Need to call them up and complain about that stuff. I work for one of those utilities and those complaints are seen by the board who approves the amount of money they are allowed to charge the consumer. For what it's worth.

Anonymous said...

Just look at the ongoing disasterous conditions being left behind by numerous contractors all along Queens Blvd in Forest Hills!