An I-Team Call Made an LA Neighborhood Safer Sidewalk

In response to NBC4's I-Team reports on this slip and fall hazard, a 100-year-old LA sidewalk that has received many trips and falls has been replaced with a smooth new one. In 1945, the Wilfandel Club was founded when other clubs resisted accepting black members, and it was the first private club for women of color in LA. "It's super safe now that we have this new sidewalk," said Wilfandel Club member Kristina Brown.

Several elderly members of the Club had fallen on the dangerous sidewalk, and Brown wrote to city and county officials pleading for their attention. Brown told NBC4 that she kept resending the email to no avail. I dislike it when people ignore me." 

Having researched the dangers of LA's decrepit sidewalks since 2014, Brown contacted the I-Team, knowing the team had done reports on it. The I-Team then carried Wilfandel Club's treacherous sidewalk. Since 1912, the city has never fixed it. Kristina Brown suddenly received replies to months-old emails.

I-Team Investigations

NBCLA's I-Team covers stories that directly impact our community. LA and SoCal investigations.

The only response I got was from Channel 4. At the time, Brown got an email from Herb Wesson's office saying they were eager to work with Waldfandel to rebuild the sidewalk. According to LA Public Works, a new sidewalk was still "3-6 years" away by February of this year.

As a result, the I-Team did more reporting on the slow pace of the city's sidewalk rebuilding. After that report, the project became a "priority", and work began in July. There are 1477 square feet of new cement poured on 5th Avenue and in front of the club by LA Street Services workers. After three weeks of work, two additional access ramps that had never existed were installed for $140,000.

Sue Clay, 88, fell on an old cracked sidewalk and needed a new one. The new sidewalk is exceptionally safe, says I-Team member Kristina Brown. After months of being ignored by public officials, she says she has learned a lesson. It's never too late to keep trying," Brown advised. If you need anything done, call Joel Grover on the I-Team."