Marine Park woman faces thousands in damages from DOT, claims she is not responsible
Catharine Olivieri says the past three years have been a nightmare because she has had to deal with damages to her sidewalk that she claims started with a light post repair in 2021.
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A Marine Park woman faces thousands of dollars in damages she says she did not cause after the Department of Transportation replaced a light post on her corner three years ago.
Catharine Olivieri says the past three years have been a nightmare because she has had to deal with damages to her sidewalk that she claims started with a light post repair in 2021.
“That’s what started it,” Oliveri said.
Oliveri says that area from her curb to the damaged area is the city’s responsibility.
But the DOT says its light pole work passed inspection and did not cause the sidewalk damage.
The DOT says she is liable for 245-square-feet of sidewalk damage, totaling about $5,500.
National Grid came out to repair gas pipes in the area over the summer.
Oliveri said they jackhammered parts of the sidewalk, which led to her failing a city inspection in July.
“They said they would make a report. They never made a report. I called National Grid and said, ‘How do I make a report?’ because I don’t trust anybody, and I made the report, and I haven’t heard from that supervisor either,” Oliveri said.
News 12 reached out to both the DOT and National Grid.
The DOT referred the inquiry to National Grid, and the utility company said it is just as confused about the situation.
“Fix the stuff that you’ve damaged,” Oliveri said. “National Grid needs to fix it. They can’t hold people responsible for trees, sidewalks and stuff that they’ve damaged that they should repair. Just don’t ignore it and pretend like it didn’t happen.”
Oliveri says she is prepared to take the necessary steps to take this financial burden off her shoulders.
