BOS:311

Needle in shrub next to Endicott statue

Red benches placed by the ice cream shop (The Scoop N Scootery) on the public sidewalk create a severe public safety and accessibility hazard: • Pedestrian Access: The benches narrow the sidewalk, blocking pedestrians, strollers, and wheelchairs. • Car Access: Positioned directly against the curb, they block parked vehicle doors from opening, forcing passengers onto the curb edge/street to exit. Important: The benches are only removed outside of the business’s operating hours. During business hours, they are placed back on the public sidewalk. The last time an inspector came to investigate, it was around 11:00 PM, when the business was closed and the benches had already been removed. As a result, the issue was incorrectly considered “resolved” because the obstruction was not present at the time of inspection. Please conduct an inspection during the business’s operating hours, when the benches are actually placed on the sidewalk, and enforce the applicable sidewalk clearance and accessibility requirements to permanently address the obstruction.