The sidewalk in front of Judy Burr's home is severely cracked and uneven because of tree roots. The sidewalk is in such poor condition, Burr is afraid to navigate over it with her walker.
"I don't wanna fall," Burr told 7 On Your Side Investigates. "I say, 'Let's go this way where there are no holes.'"
Interior designer Holly Westoff was hired by Burr eight years ago. Westoff was concerned the sidewalk's cracks could really hurt her client.
"It's not safe for anybody, but it's especially a hazard for someone like Judy," Westoff said.
Eight years ago, Westoff filed a complaint with 311 to get the sidewalk fixed.
Westoff received an email from the city on June 27, 2017 that said her request has been found "eligible" and "our wait time is approximately 6 months to initiate sidewalk repair."
"And then six months goes by and we heard nothing," Westoff said. "Then cut to COVID happens and then that's the excuse for why it isn't fixed, but eight years is nuts."
Westoff says right before she reached out to 7 On Your Side, she followed up with the city again, but she couldn't get answers on why the sidewalk still isn't fixed.
Westoff and Burr aren't the only ones in the neighborhood worried about the sidewalks.
"Can definitely say you will find on almost every block a rise on the sidewalk to where it's actually become dangerous," neighbor Chris Bennet said.
So what's the hold up of getting these sidewalks fixed?
Los Angeles' public works department said: "due to the overwhelming number of requests" to fix sidewalks, and because of "over 4,000 pending Access Requests" some requests may take "up to 10 years to fix."
As for the sidewalk in front of Burr's home, the public works department said it will be repaired.
"Fortunately, this site has reached the top of the queue and is on track to be remediated this fiscal year," said Mary Nemick, the director of communications for the Bureau of Engineering at L.A. Public Works.
Right after the statement was issued, Westoff got an email from 311 saying her request has been updated to the "Design Phase."
"I knew of 7 on Your Side, and you guys have done so many great things for so many people," Westoff said. "I was like, 'If they can't do it, nobody can.'"
It does cost taxpayer money to fix the city's broken sidewalks, and the city is tight on funds, but there is also a cost to taxpayers when sidewalks go unrepaired.
In roughly the past five years, the city has paid out more than $86 million because of lawsuits relating to sidewalks.
