by Patrick Rocchio
When a utility pole splintered and cracked in Edgewater Park, the residents worried that it would take a lot of effort to get it repaired.
Thanks to help from Senator Jeff Klein, the wooden pole near the section D parking lot was replaced quickly and moved to another part of the street where it will no longer interfere with street losing operations like snow removal.
Klein got the Edgewater Park Owners Cooperative, Con Edison, and Verizon all on the same page in terms of repairing the downed lines and making sure that the pole on 7th Avenue was operational as soon as possible.
“We need to make sure that our communities are safe and that the appropriate people take responsibility for facilities which impact our neighborhoods,” said Senator Klein. “This pole was an accident waiting to happen and I’m proud to have such a proactive partnership with the Edgewater Park community.”
John Walker, the manager for the Edgewater Park Owners Cooperative, praised Senator Klein for all of his work on behalf of the community since taking office. Among other things, Klein advocated on behalf of the community when Allstate and other insurance companies tried to cancel many home insurance policies in Edgewater.
This latest effort is one in many things Klein is doing for his constituents in Edgewater.
“We had wanted this pole moved for a long time because it was in an awkward spot, but couldn’t get anywhere,” Walker said. “It was there protruding out onto the street. Senator Klein was able to get all the different people we needed to run the lines to another utility pole –Verizon telephone, FIOS, and Con Edison.”
Walker said that Klein’s staff, and John Doyle in particular, were really wonderful with the follow through to the request for assistance in the matter of the cracked pole, and that the residents of the cooperative were very thankful.
“Senator Klein has been very proactive in helping us with this issue and many others,” Walker said. “He staff really follows up and does not quit until the problem is solved.”
It was a win-win situation for the community and the utility companies.
“As I’ve said before: when we work together we win,” Klein said.
