L.A.’s flawed sidewalk plan

Re “City to pass the bucks on sidewalks?” Feb. 21

The L.A. City Council is passing the buck literally on the sidewalk issue. Already, local homeowners are bailing the city out by agreeing to pay half the cost of repairs. The story reports that the city pays several million dollars in lawsuit settlements for injuries caused by damaged sidewalks. By shirking its responsibility, the City Council appears to be passing legal liabilities on to homeowners too.

Homeowners will now have to pay for sidewalk maintenance and legal expertise to protect themselves from lawsuits.

Although trial attorneys, some freelance civil engineers and City Council members might benefit, this policy will cause homeowners to suffer and add to the problem of meritless lawsuits clogging our courts.

Peter Bylsma

Los Angeles

The writer is executive director of Los Angeles Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.

--

The city is considering forcing homeowners to replace damaged sidewalks when they sell their property. Is the city also going to grant homeowners the right to control usage of their sidewalks as a way to limit possible damage? It would be inequitable to force the financial responsibilities of ownership upon someone without granting the corresponding rights of ownership.

Gerry Swider

Sherman Oaks

--

There is extensive sidewalk damage on our once-beautiful cul-de-sac caused by the ficus trees planted years ago. These were the only trees of choice the city in its infinite wisdom allowed at that time. Property owners responsible? I think not.

Judi Haase

San Pedro

--

If the City Council’s Public Works Committee would take a closer look at the inefficiency with which the city Department of Public Works operates, perhaps much money could be saved and allocated to sidewalk repair. After numerous requests for repaving, the department moved large machines into our neighborhood and began repaving about five blocks up the street, slowly working in our direction. It stopped at our corner, saying it ran out of funds, leaving just one block in disrepair. How efficient is it to bring in workers and equipment only to have to return to pave one block?

Brigitte Rose

Reseda

--

Now the city wants to shift the burden of costly sidewalk repairs to the property owners when they sell their properties. Although property owners are required to pay for city-required retrofits before an escrow can close, your article doesn’t mention that in addition, the city charges a city transfer tax at a rate of $4.50 per $1,000 from the sale amount, which amounts to several thousand dollars on average that the city receives. Isn’t the city of Los Angeles getting enough from property owners as it is?

Tim Bragg

Eagle Rock