Community Watchdog

Broken utility pole left mess

In Uniondale, a utility pole on Manor Parkway off Front Street snapped more than two years ago, leaving a splintered stanchion. The broken pole, with protruding bolts, and the metal stake that was used to keep it from leaning are still there. Meanwhile, a half-block away at Alcyon Place and Manor Parkway, there's a thick wire cable that dangles from the pole and trails into the street. I drive a school bus there and hit the cable every day. This is a major area utilized by students who attend both Walnut Street Elementary and Uniondale High Schools. I've called county, town and state politicians in addition to Verizon, which I believe owns the pole, but nothing has been done.

Jerry LaForgia, Lynbrook

We can't say enough about Verizon spokesman John Bonomo and the crews that fix the problems lickety-split after we contact them. Hours after we called Bonomo on Thursday afternoon, Verizon crews worked overnight to remove the stanchion, old pole and metal stake. They also installed a new pole and got rid of the dangling cable at the corner.

Why was the splintered pole there for two years? Bonomo can't be sure, but often when there's a delay in finishing a project like this, it's because other utilities are involved. Usually, by the time LIPA and Cablevision (which owns Newsday) do their work, Verizon crews have moved on to other projects. The same is true when LIPA installs a new pole and the old one sits there sometimes for years after Verizon and Cablevision have moved their lines.

For problems involving Verizon, call 800-VERIZON.

Craggy road a hazard for elderly residents

For over a year, I and many residents here have been trying to get the Town of Hempstead to fix our deteriorated streets. I have contacted town officials numerous times but nothing has been accomplished, even after an on-site review by a town engineer. The most serious problem that requires immediate attention is at the corner of John Street and Washington Avenue. The street is crossed frequently by residents of a nearby group home and members of two nearby churches. Many of the churchgoers are elderly. The road between the curb cuts is craggy and has sunken. The sewer drain is almost 8 inches above grade now, so the area floods when it rains (and ices in winter). The uneven surface especially hinders frail walkers and causes them to trip. The town has applied patching material around the manhole cover, which only lasts till the next heavy rain.

Paul Spina, Seaford

After our call, the town highway department did a temporary hot patch fix to smooth out some of those areas that are difficult for challenged walkers to maneuver, town spokesman Michael Deery said.

The town's highway commissioner paid a visit to the site and is now aware this isn't a problem that a load of asphalt will cure. Based on his assessment, he and the engineering commissioner met to plan a long-term remedy, Deery said.

"What we are doing today is a hot patch, which should provide some resolution to the issue for the immediate future," Deery said Thursday. "They will be sending engineering crews out . . . to work in preparation for a permanent repair and fix, and an engineered solution this spring." Stay tuned.

Residents with a town problem should call Supervisor Kate Murray's help line at 516-489-6000, weekdays. For emergencies after hours, call the Department of Public Safety at 516-538-1900.

Drivers rolling through stop signs

It seems like one out of every two cars on Burrs Lane in Dix Hills disregard the stop signs at the intersection of Ebbtide Lane. I recently added homemade signs that say "PLEASE" and put them under the official signs, but it didn't change anything. Police don't seem to have interest in patrolling the area.

Barry Milberg, Dix Hills

Second Precinct Sgt. Steven De Santis went to the intersection after our call to evaluate drivers at the stop signs. The sergeant agreed that many drivers roll through the intersection instead of coming to a full stop, and the location was added to the precinct's patrol-check system.

"Surveillance of the area should be picking up," De Santis said. The check system has more than 100 locations observed by officers when they have time, he said.

As far as your homemade sign goes, Mr. Milberg, posting it was a town code no-no and if the Town of Huntington wanted to be sticky about it, you could receive a violation, spokesman A.J. Carter said. That won't happen because everyone recognizes what you were trying to do, and your signs didn't obstruct the real signs. Your signs have been removed.

Anyone concerned about traffic problems in the Second Precinct should call 631-854-8200.

- Michael R. Ebert