LA City Council sets up sidewalk trust fund to repair damaged walkways

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council has set up a sidewalk trust fund to ensure damaged walkways are repaired.

One resident, Kambiz Nokhost said trying to help his two disabled parents get through some of the ragged sidewalks is too much to handle.

He said three years ago he complained to the city and he still hasn't gotten a response.

But even steps away from City Hall there are sidewalks that have peaks at least 6 inches off the ground.

Mayor Eric Garcetti said that it is appalling that the $7 million he budgeted for sidewalk repair has been sitting unused after six months.

The sticking point is a lawsuit filed by disability rights groups. The chief administrative officer worried that if repairs started before the litigation was resolved, the city would not get credit against the suit.

But council leaders pushed forward, setting up a $27 million sidewalk trust fund. The first priority is to fix sidewalks adjacent to city agencies to help the mobility impaired residents. Next are places like Nakhost's sidewalk.

Councilman Paul Krekorian is requesting monthly reports that include the amount of money spent and how much concrete is used to ensure the funds don't languish.

As for fixing all the bad sidewalks in Los Angeles, that would cost an estimated $1 billion.