This was an unfortunate and cautionary tale for all Residents. The outcome was unconscionable Based on this information, it doesn’t appear as though her insurance company acted in her best interest. Perhaps the Homeowner should file an inquiry with the Department of Insurance re: her insurance company and the City of Inglewood.
Shouldn’t there have been a request to be removed from the suit re: the unfortunately injured woman as well as an additional Homeowner suit against the City of Inglewood? At least she’ll have an answer re: accountability re: the judgment against her and increased costs going forward.
FYI The City has received numerous inquiries, complaints, as well as pictures documenting sidewalk, curb, tree and street damage from residents in many areas of the city prior to accidents, injuries, uprooting of trees and property damage. Independent arborists have also alerted the city.
People have been injured and filed legitimate claims or been too afraid to report their injuries to the City and or given up because of the additional problems caused. Inglewood insists Residents pay for repairs caused by parkway trees that Inglewood installed and has know for decades have destroyed our plumbing and lifted sidewalks, making usage hazardous. A number of Residents have apparently had to take on these burdens because it takes unreasonable and massive fortitude as well as the major deliberate delays.
We all know Resident complaints are frequently ignored and Inglewood flat out denies practically all claims, creating undue burden on aggrieved parties. The Mayors, City Councils, and all past City Managers bear responsibility for decades of deferred, improper and lack of maintenance and the Directors of Public Works were directly tasked with the execution. Note: the former Director of Public Works is now the current City Manager.
(Btw, Trees are now back under Parks and Rec.)
Recall excited statements by Councilmembers, years ago near the beginning of this Administration, that street and sidewalk projects (coupled with trees and curbs) would done in alternate years (didn’t happen and later denied by Councilmember(s). Recall the Mayor’s assertions last election about so many streets redone (which weren’t finished at the time).
Look around you. (In case they are just getting to an item), note the last 2 times when your sidewalks, streets, curbs, trees, etc. were properly repaired, replaced and/or maintained. Visit and note other Inglewood neighborhoods, the medical area on Prairie and compare your neighborhood and those areas to the state of the Entertainment Center corridors and where Administration and their affiliates live. You’re assessed annually for streets, curbs, sidewalks, lights. All residents and business owners should be questioning where their money has been going.
While City negligence and payouts cost us all more in the end, and even though it’s hard to get information from the City and it seems to mysteriously disappear, you MUST report EVERYTHING so Inglewood can’t say it’s the first time they heard of it and they didn’t know, and the next person (who may be you), will be protected. They make it difficult and time consuming on purpose.
Create files (hardcopy and/or digital) Back up your reporting. While you are calling Public Works (310) 412- 5333, note who you spoke with AND email them AND your Councilperson AND put it on the City website portal’s Citizen Action Center AND SCREENSHOT that BEFORE you submit. Done. As it is now, if you want ACTION you may have to continue to FOLLOW UP.
Please encourage your neighbors to do the same. Maybe if they hear it enough….
Let’s start getting what we’re paying for.
Essie
