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Resident tells council sidewalks and policing gaps are creating hazards for wheelchair users
Summary
Steven J. Clay told the council sidewalks in parts of Brockton are in disrepair and said limited police presence and dangerous behavior by dirt bikes and ATVs threaten residents who use wheelchairs; he urged follow-up after the hearing.
Steven J. Clay, a Brockton resident, told the City Council that deteriorating sidewalks and limited police presence are creating day-to-day hazards for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. "There's hardly any cops around," Clay said, and described cracked sidewalks and potholes that he says have damaged wheelchair tires and caused repeated repair costs.
Clay described youth riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers "swimming in and out of traffic" and cutting across sidewalks, behavior he said forces pedestrians into danger. He also recounted an incident in May in front of the district court where three youths with guns approached and two officers did not make arrests; Clay told the council he asked officers to arrest the youths and that the officers instead left in their cars.
Clay asked councilors to address sidewalk repair and public-safety presence and volunteered to meet with staff after the public hearing to provide more details. The transcript shows the presiding official invited Clay to speak with staff after the hearing but records no formal council motion or immediate action.
Clay's remarks were offered during the budget public hearing as public comment; he linked infrastructure and public-safety concerns to the broader municipal agenda.
