City Council looking at scaffolding

To the editor:

(re: “Old scaffolds never die, they just rust in place,” Sept. 14)

I was very pleased to see the well-researched and detailed report about sidewalk sheds.

As I wrote in The Press on June 7, the use and abuse of scaffolds — or sidewalk sheds as they are sometimes called — is a pervasive, citywide issue that has been neglected for far too long, and must be effectively dealt with by our elected officials.

The Association of Riverdale Cooperatives and Condominiums has been actively advocating for legislation to address the problems for some time, and we are pleased to report that city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has informed us that the council is still considering Intro. 1389 that would cause the removal of a sidewalk shed if there has been no work performed on the site for seven or more consecutive days — assuming the absence of any extenuating or dangerous circumstances.

We strongly urge the council to consider and pass Intro. 1389, and we urge all voters to appeal to their representatives in city council to support its passage.

Stephen Budihas

The author is president of the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives and Condominiums.