Residents urge council to limit tax increases and address sidewalks, street repairs and trees during public comment

Multiple residents used the council’s public comment period to press elected officials on tax increases and the condition of city streets, sidewalks and trees.

Luis Cortez said taxpayers are frustrated and asked the council to treat all city residents equally when providing services. Julia Fernandez described a recent fall on an uncleared sidewalk that resulted in a compound fracture and said stronger enforcement of property-owner snow-removal obligations is needed, especially along Genesee Street where bus riders and pedestrians rely on cleared sidewalks. Fernandez told the council she would like the city to do more “to get those sidewalks cleared, you know, really quickly, really thoroughly.”

Beverly Parish, who said she is on a fixed income, asked the council to consider the economic impact of another tax increase on elderly and disabled residents. Tayea (Tayea) Frazier described a year-long unresolved curb complaint on her street in West Utica and said she had received an unsatisfactory response from the engineer and DPW offices. She said the neighborhood feels overlooked compared with other parts of the city.

Taxpayer Ron Vincent urged the council to build a stronger property tax base and asked why properties that appear to be vacant or not in active tax-paying use had not returned to the tax rolls. Cesar Hernandez and Keith Guyer described cracked sidewalks and tree roots damaging curbs and basements; Hernandez urged the city to provide clearer options and permits for property owners who cannot afford costly repairs.

Council and staff responses included an offer by DPW Commissioner Mark Sokolowski to meet with a complainant after the meeting to try to resolve a curb/snow-removal issue. Council members and staff repeatedly said they understood resident concerns and that some repairs are constrained by available budget and staffing levels.

Why this matters: Residents on fixed incomes, landlords and homeowners said they face higher living costs and want clearer, timelier responses to street and sidewalk repairs as the council finalizes the budget. Several speakers tied the issue of tax increases to a perceived shortfall in service delivery and urged the council to prioritize maintenance and enforcement.

Ending: The council reiterated it will finish budget deliberations in a final session and that officials will follow up on specific street and sidewalk complaints where possible.