“Point-of-sale” sidewalk repair program
By California law, (STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE SECTION 5610-5618 )residential property owners are responsible for maintenance and repair of their sidewalks. The planting of fast-growing shade trees in Los Angeles has led to an unexpected cost: miles of dangerous sidewalks broken by the roots of these trees. Meanwhile federal funding for sidewalk repair has been used up completely, leaving LA with 6,500 miles of sidewalks in desperate need of repair.
SEIU Local 721 helped City Council member Wendy Greuel develop the tremendously successful 50/50 plan in which the City splits costs of sidewalk repairs with property owners. To meet the need the City has hired additional crews to repair 92 miles of sidewalks per year. Hundreds of new workers have moved into city jobs through programs developed by SEIU.
A new “point-of-sale” program will allow homeowners to fix their sidewalks now, but pay for the work at the time they sell their house. A team including representatives from SEIU 721, real estate professionals, neighborhood council activists and city management are developing the pilot with the goal of a July 1, 2008 rollout. The team anticipates being able to hire 600 unskilled local workers in the 2008-09 fiscal year. Through the vocational program championed by SEIU they can transition into full-time civil service workers eligible for union membership.
City residents interested in participating in either the 50/50 or “Point-of-sale” sidewalk repair programs should call 311, the City of Los Angeles toll free number to access information and non-emergency services.