Today Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D, WF - Fresh Meadows) and Councilman Rory I. Lancman (D-Queens) joined civic leaders and over thirty Fresh Meadows residents in calling on the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite the investigation and repair of a street cave-in on 179th Street between 75th Avenue and Union Turnpike.

The street cave-in has gone unaddressed for nearly a year, despite worsening road conditions and grievances from Community Board 8, the Utopia Civic Association and residents. The first complaint concerning the cave-in filed with Community Board 8 dates back to May 6th, 2013.

The cave-in has created unsafe conditions for both drivers and pedestrians, and is an aesthetic eyesore in the community. Residents are forced to park their cars crookedly as a result of a large dip towards the middle of the road. The cave-in extends the length of three homes, and in some places, the street has sunk over a foot and a half in height. Residents fear that by delaying the street’s repair, pipes underneath the street will break, worsening the problem.

After many months of community frustration, DEP investigated the cave-in, but to residents’ dismay was unable to find the source of the problem in the water and sewage infrastructure it manages. DEP is currently in the process of investigating whether the cave-in was caused by a leak stemming from the private sewer lines of nearby residents. According to DEP protocol, problems stemming from privately owned lines become the financial responsibility of the residents that own them. However, the cost of repairing the street for any one individual household would cost tens of thousands of dollars – a nearly impossible sum for a family to incur in the largely middle-class neighborhood. Further, because the street is collapsing parallel to DEP’s own sewer lines, it seems unlikely that the source of the problem stems from any one household.

Councilman Lancman expressed frustration on behalf of residents: “Not only will the cave-in drain value away from these homes, but at some point, a driver is going to suddenly swerve to avoid it and hit somebody. We’ll have a tragedy on our hands.”

"For homeowners who have dealt with this issue for far too long, enough is enough," said Assemblywoman Rozic. "The City needs to sink their teeth into this situation and bring relief to Fresh Meadows residents as soon as possible."

Councilman Lancman and Assemblywoman Rozic have pledged to continue to place pressure on DEP to handle the issue quickly and be accountable for repairs until the street is returned to quality condition.