Elected officials held a press conference near this sidewalk in Bellerose to bring attention to the sidewalks in need of repair in northeast Queens (Photo courtesy of State Sen. John Liu’s office)
July 15, 2021 By Christian Murray
State Sen. John Liu and several Queens officials held a press conference in Bellerose Tuesday to call on the city to repair sidewalks that were damaged about a year ago by Tropical Storm Isaias.
Liu, joined by community leaders and residents of northeast Queens, urged City Hall to fix several sidewalks that remain damaged by uprooted trees caused by the Aug. 4 tropical storm.
Many homeowners in northeast Queens remain concerned for their safety, Liu says, with many putting up traffic cones and homemade signs to alert pedestrians about the uprooted sidewalks to prevent injuries.
Liu said that the city had promised to make these sidewalk repairs when the weather improved—but has failed to fix them or provide any updates.
State Sen. John Liu, Ass. Members David Weprin and Nily Rozic, Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Barry Grodenchik held a press conference Tuesday to bring attention to the sidewalks in need of repair in northeast Queens (Photo courtesy of State Sen. John Liu’s office)
“These sidewalks are used daily by children, seniors, and other pedestrians to get to schools, parks, grocery stores, and to run daily errands,” Liu said in a statement.
“Sidewalk safety is more important than ever with the rise in pedestrian usage and it’s unfathomable that a year later the City has failed to make these repairs.”
Resident Kathy Parent, who lives where the press conference took place, said that the sidewalk by her house—along with others in the area—needs to be fixed.
“I am distressed by having the sidewalk in such an unattractive, unsafe and dangerous condition for the last year,” she said. “The city promised to repair it but they still have not done so.”
The city plans to do the work in coming weeks, according to a City Hall spokesperson.
“We’re grateful to all the elected officials who highlighted the outstanding work today, and we look forward to making the repairs in the coming weeks,” said Mitch Schwartz, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office. “Queens deserves safe and accessible sidewalks, and we’ll do everything we can to expedite the process from here.”
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