Community Watchdog

A woman wrote to ask if we’d help with a problem she’s been trying to get fixed for more than two years. She’s 86 and her husband is 90. They both drive, but getting out of their driveway in Jericho is difficult because a large tree blocks her sightline and they have a hard time seeing oncoming cars.

She’s been complaining to Town of Oyster Bay officials. But here’s the problem: She lives on a county road.

Logically, her problem should have been forwarded to Nassau County, but apparently that didn’t happen until earlier this year. There are many overlapping jurisdictions on Long Island and sometimes it’s difficult enough to get a problem fixed, even when you've contacted the right agency. When the wrong municipality is contacted, it can greatly add to the time it takes to get the problem solved.

Before you register a complaint about something on your street, be sure to find out whether it’s maintained by the town, the county or an incorporated village. Your local municipality will be able to tell you whom to contact.

Contacting the right people the first time may help in getting your problem solved more quickly.

We're getting mail -- a lot of mail.

Based on the phone messages, as well as questions and complaints coming to watchdog@newsday.com, it's clear there's a wide range of problems on Long Island making readers unhappy.

Someone in Amity Harbor says a narrow street has become an obstacle course for drivers, resulting in accidents, especially in pre-daylight hours, because of all the parked cars there.

Homeowners on three streets in Seaford are fed up with crumbling curbs they believe were caused by snowplows last winter, and they’re not pleased with the response by local officials.

A colony of feral cats roaming a neighborhood in the Village of Westbury has frustrated one resident enough to contact North Hempstead town officials, the Nassau County Legislature and a state senator for help.

Repaving problems, dangerous traffic conditions and school issues are also commanding our readers' attention -- and complaints. Some of these may be passed on to Newsday’s beat reporters who specialize in particular areas.

We're here to help.

Gwen Young

Getting the run-around from Town Hall?

Got a problem on your block the village won’t fix?

Are you running out of gas trying to get the highway department to repair that huge pothole?

Gwen answers reader questions and hounds local officials in a weekly column.

Is there something in your neighborhood not getting fixed? Let us know.

E-Mail Gwen at

watchdog@newsday.com

You can also call or write...

Newsday Watchdog
235 Pinelawn Rd.
Melville, NY 11747
(631) 843-2700

Please include your name, address and daytime phone number.