Use of Sidewalk
I have a neighbor that likes to use the sidewalk in front of my house in Bed Stuy. He and friends in the summer set up chairs in front of my house under my shady tree and he chains a bike to the parking sign in front of my house. To my complaints, he says…
I have a neighbor that likes to use the sidewalk in front of my house in Bed Stuy. He and friends in the summer set up chairs in front of my house under my shady tree and he chains a bike to the parking sign in front of my house. To my complaints, he says that I do not own the sidewalk. What are my legal rights here? I am responsible for keeping the sidewalk clear and safe. How do you deal with such “bad” neighbors?
Funny how you don’t own a sidewalk, but if somebody trips on it, they can sue you! Can you make friends with the guy? This might not be practical for your situation since the dude would have to do it himself, but it’s possible to write to the city to get a tree planted in front of your home. It takes a while, but FYI for you/other people who might have an empty space out front.
I don’t think comments 1 and 3 are “assholes.”
I think you buy into a neighborhood as it is and that the asshole is the one who pressures people, calls the cops, etc, for a whole lot of nothin’. It is a public sidewalk, and it is totally fascist to act like you own it… especially the parking sign!!! So what if your neighbor locks his bike up to “your” parking sign?
I have locked up countless bikes to countless neighbors’ signs… but then again I am a nice white girl, ahem.
If you don’t like it, I like the commenter who suggested sit there first. Otherwise, live with it or move.
Get there earlier and set your own chairs up and sit there. Or put a tree gaurd around the tree and garden inside the pit. Assert your presence.
Ignore commenters 1 & 3. Assholes.
Tell your neighbor to plant their own tree. And until then, shove off. 311, 311, 311.
Our neighbor had the same issue. He owns a house and ajacent lot next to us. When we first moved in, people would set up an entire freakin bbq in front of the lot, which was an active parking zone, not an abandoned lot by the way. So he told them to move along. And they did. Across the street in front of the school. And all lived happily ever after.
If someone is loitering there is nothing you can do unless they are making a certain amount of noise. The same goes for children playing in front of your house ,and people who wanna sit in the shade.
These guys are loitering in front of your house. I’m not sure what the law is on this but I would find out. It might be a good time to walk dow to your local police department and find out what your rights are. If the law is on your side ( and I tink it is ) have the cops talk to these guys since they don’t listen to you.
I agree, MOVE this is Brooklyn.. not some Mormon Town in Utah. People have been sitting under trees in Brooklyn for a 100 years. We don’t need you telling us to move along as if you have more of a right to our streets than we do.
You called 311 about it? You would have to have a valid quality of life complaint such as littering or noise.
Move