Local pols are pushing for a bill they say will reclaim on-street parking spaces from greedy property owners who illegally cut curbs in front of their homes to create unauthorized driveways.
The legislation, introduced last month by Councilman Kalman Yeger (D–Bensonhurst) and co-sponsored by Councilman Justin Brannan (D–Bay Ridge), would require property owners to correct curb cuts created without a permit within 30 days. If the curb isn’t fixed, the Department of Transportation must do the work within six months, at the property owner’s expense, similar to a law that requires property owners to maintain sidewalk defects.
“What we’re saying is that if you do not fix the curb, the city will fix it and bill you,” Yeger said. “It requires the government to help the people out a bit.”
The bill is a response to property owners who illegally cut curbs to install driveways in front of their homes, removing on-street parking for fellow drivers. Illegal curb cutting has become rampant throughout Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, and Bay Ridge recently, leading fed-up neighbors to complain that current laws aren’t doing enough to address the problem.
The Department of Buildings can issue violations to property owners who cut curbs without a permit, but there isn’t a law on the books that requires owners to restore the curbs. Yeger’s bill would change that, giving the city the power it needs to fight back where it currently has little, according to Marnee Elias-Pavia, district manager of Community Board 11.
20 comments:
Excellent. Illegal selfishness.
Believe it when I see it !
You would never see something like this pushed by a Queens politicians, who have their hands full building the Democratic Party on gender issues, immigration issues, and welfare state issues, while selling their communitys to developers.
Finally, a step in the right direction. Good to see that at least the Brooklyn politicians are on the job, unlike the Queens ones who are MIA while the place declines.
BUT, the big question, if this gets passed (which is beyond me why this was never on the books to begin with), will it be enforced. Ironic no mention of Queens, which SE Queens is notorious with this kind of shit, where just on one block you will find almost every house has done this, especially in Jamaica.
BUT as usual, wait till so much destruction is done before doing anything as opposed to "nipping shit in the bud", a long lost simple action that saves tons of money and improves quality if life.
Once again the most corrupt City "leaders" allow this problem to fester to a problem where legislation Is needed to fix it. Is the same old shit our elected pull every day in order for them to keep getting a pay check. Fully undeserved at that.
Good to see that at least the Brooklyn politicians are on the job, unlike the Queens ones who are MIA while the place declines.
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Not MIA at all. Since everyone in Queens thinks that its ok to let others do their thinking for them, they have no problem in turning their boro over to the Democratic Party.
You want to see 'Queens Values'? Look around you. Then watch Honest Joe Crowley get reelected with jubilant headlines showing beaming crowds.
Yes they are going to need the new parking spaces for those Zip cars.
Sorry being so cynical on Sunday
They should restore the curbs and parking however leave the cars alone if they fit without blocking the sidewalk. Parking or finding a garage is near impossible.
A car owner should have the right to store a nice car on his property as long as its a private car with perhaps classic license plates. As in not a RV, Camper, Motorhome or any commercial vehicle.
That would be fare. If your blocked in you wait too dam bad!
This problem is so big it will take years to fix. And a lot of concrete contracts. And who pays for the work???
Build a wooden deck with a ramp and 2 swinging doors. No one will see anything...screw the NYPD Traffic agency!
It's about time. They should do the same with illegal basements, but neither will ever happen!
Why aren't the owners of these illegal driveways being fined?
What about the driveway that were legal before new construction are now not driveways anymore because a new building was built without a driveway and the curb cut still exist. The new owner put up a sign saying do not park in driveway or be tow and there is no longer a driveway just a curb cut.
Why wasn't this the law in the first place?
For those pointing out that Queens councilmembers aren't doing anything, the article mentions that one is:
But that hasn’t stopped Yeger from introducing his legislation and even co-sponsoring another recently proposed bill introduced by Councilman Robert Holden (D–Queens), which would require police officers to confirm the legality of a curb cut before issuing violations for vehicles parked there.
How about enter the street data on a tablet. Then go block by block and confirm the legality of ALL the curb cuts !!
The problem is I don't think the cops have the live access to data to confirm the legality of a curb cut. The computers in the cars aren't for that, they have to call it in to be looked up it takes DAYS !!!!
Besides I don't think the mayor will like it because he hates cars on the streets. Emmm---unless they are for his use.
Not too sure if I believe that this is a good thing or bad thing. That would mean less parking on the streets as if Brooklyn isn't already crowded enough to park in. Then again the sidewalk that they dug out of to make that spot can now be utilized as a parking spot.
I think I know a way they can do it.
Curb cuts and the surveyors coordinate data are all on file just like sewer lines and property lines..
The city could create a databases of these curb cuts as waypoints (targets) that can be downloaded into GPS handhelds as Waypoints. This includes wireless GRPS and LTE data connections for the police car computers
If a waypoint beeps wile walking by, normal reaction since its in the database, any hit (waypoint) that DOESNT BEEP is likely illegal and would need to be investigated.
I think the problem is city employees are too stupid to figure this out let alone operate and maintain such technology. These dopes need a contractors to change a battery's in parking equipment and handy talkies.
It seems all these new young cops and city employees are total dopes, how such misfits pass the civil service test I have no idea.
Log overdue!
Good to see at the very least one Queens politician is addressing this alongside his Brooklyn colleagues...
"Lawmakers have tried to push for stricter curb cut regulations in the past without success. But that hasn’t stopped Yeger from introducing his legislation and even co-sponsoring another recently proposed bill introduced by Councilman Robert Holden (D–Queens), which would require police officers to confirm the legality of a curb cut before issuing violations for vehicles parked there."
Thanks!
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