County says sidewalk repairs will be enforced after News 12 again raises Bellmore accessibility concerns
David Kay, who uses his wheelchair to maintain his independence and stay connected to his community, says the broken and uneven sidewalks along Newbridge Road remain a daily challenge.
More Stories
A Bellmore man who relies on a motorized wheelchair to get around says dangerous sidewalks continue to force him into traffic, even after bringing the issue to public attention.
David Kay, who uses his wheelchair to maintain his independence and stay connected to his community, says the broken and uneven sidewalks along Newbridge Road remain a daily challenge.
“This is my freedom,” Kay said of his wheelchair. “This is an everyday hell for me.”
News 12 first met Kay 10 days ago as he navigated damaged sidewalks that repeatedly forced him off the curb and into the roadway. Returning to the same locations this week, the hazardous conditions remained unchanged, with no visible repairs.
“It’s not fixed yet. It’s still a problem for me,” Kay said. “As you saw, I had to go in the street. It’s a little scary. I’ve got to look both ways.”
The section of Newbridge Road where the damaged sidewalks are located is owned and maintained by Nassau County. However, under Nassau County code, sidewalk repairs are the responsibility of the adjacent property owners.
The county code also allows Nassau County to complete necessary repairs and recover the costs by assessing the property owner afterward.
For Kay, the issue is about more than damaged concrete — it’s about safety and accessibility.
“This is an everyday fight for me,” he said. “I’m hoping it gets fixed soon.”
After being contacted by News 12, Nassau County officials said they will notify the adjacent property owners about the repairs that need to be made. If the sidewalks are not repaired within a reasonable amount of time, the county says it will complete the work and bill the property owners for the cost.
