'LA Sidewalk Day' At City Hall To Focus On Proposed Repairs Plan
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Community members along with Los Angeles City Council officials were set Monday for a public hearing on a proposed sidewalk repair program.
In June, Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian, Joe Buscaino and Council President Herb Wesson Jr. introduced motions outlining a comprehensive repair program that would fix the city's 4,600 miles of failing sidewalks.
Under the plan, buckled sidewalks at private residences citywide would be repaired with half the cost paid by homeowners and the other half paid with taxpayer money. An enforcement mechanism would be created to ensure commercial property owners comply with existing sidewalk laws.
Another proposal includes developing a low- or no-interest revolving loan program from which homeowners can borrow to make sidewalk repairs and repay over a fixed term.
Buscaino told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO said the issue ultimately boils down to taking ownership of the problem.
"The basic question that we're dealing with for the last several years is, who's responsible for paying these repairs?" he said. "Is it the property owner or is it the city?"
According to Buscaino, some laws appear to claim the city is responsible for fixing sidewalks, but others place the responsibility on property owners.
The hearing is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.