Broken Sidewalk Information

The Broken Sidewalk Campaign

The city will soon consider an ordinance requiring repair of broke sidewalks when a home is sold. This will not solve the problem. Instead, it will jeopardize home sales, bog down escrows forever, and leave all residents still at risk.

The Realtors "Broken Sidewalks Campaign" aims to identify serious risks citywide, prod elected leaders to elevate this issue to a more urgent status, and support measures that will solve the problem, rather than merely serve as inadequate Band-Aids.

With the percentage of broken sidewalks approaching 50 percent, action is needed before it spirals further out of control. This is a "livable neighborhoods" issue that is supported by many Neighborhood Councils citywide. Just like the police urban initiative known as "Broken Windows," a broken sidewalk often is the first warning sign of a neighborhood in decline. Failing to act undermines property values and threatens the stability of entire neighborhoods.

Realtors are urged to contact City Council members to stress the need for citywide action and to object to any ordinance that would impose a point of sale requirement.

Realtors also are urged to contact homeowners within their farm territories to educate them about this problem and have owners report broken sidewalks to the city (818-374-6857).

Realtors can give all property owners a copy of an informational brochure available on-line at www.srar.com or LASidewalks.org, collect information, take photographs of locations with broken sidewalks that pose serious public safety issues and use on-line resources to aid this campaign.

Click here to go back to previous page