When a Brooklyn family had a city tree uproot their sidewalk, putting their house at risk, they called 7 On Your Side to help smooth things over.
If you know any nonnas, you know the basement kitchen is grandma gold.
It's where Maria Cimino has fed her family for 59 years.
But the downstairs kitchen on Withers Street in Williamsburg's been withering away. Its walls and floor are rotting after years of flooding.
"I hope they fix because I can't take it no more," Maria said.
"The roots of this city tree have pushed the slab up over half a foot," said Anthony Cimino, Maria's son. "They did not plant the tree correctly, they did not plant deep, the tree roots doesn't grow down, it grows across. The concrete is supposed to be pitched and it's supposed to go down the sidewalk and now it's going int the basement and making a flood every time there's a rainstorm."
They complained about the tree that keeps growing in Brooklyn a decade ago. In 2019, the family was informed the sidewalk was eligible for repair at no cost to you through the trees and sidewalk program.
"So did they ever come and fix it?" 7 On Your Side's Nina Pineda asked.
"No," they said.
After the sidewalk failed an insurance inspection, deemed an unacceptable trip and fall hazard, Mrs. Cimino was told her homeowners policy would be dropped if she didn't fix it ASAP.
"Somebody fell down," Maria said. "I don't want nobody hurt here, then what happens, it's my problem."
A complaint to 311 generated another repair promise the following year. But again, no one showed.
Fast forward five years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and it still wasn't fixed. 7 On Your Side sent the evidence and were told as soon as the weather cleared it would be fixed. True to their word the sidewalk was fixed.
"I'm so glad I saw you on TV, ah God bless," Maria said.
"Without 7 On Your Side we would still be with the mess we had before," Anthony said.
Finally, nonna and her neighbors can walk without fear of falling, and she can cook again in her dry downstairs kitchen.
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