BROOKLYN (WPIX)—
Something is broken in New York's celebrated 311 help line system.That's the only explanation that makes sense to PIX 11 News reporter Greg Mocker, after the city ignored an abandoned, stolen car -- parked on a city street -- for nine months.
Residents of Glenmore Street in East New York emailed Mocker for help after the city failed -- despite repeated 311 calls -- to remove the 1989 Toyota with New Jersey plates and smashed windows. The car, which still had its tires intact, first appeared on the block in December 2009.
When Mocker reported the car to 311, he was told it was handled.
"The Police Department responded to the complaint and took action to fix the condition," the 311 system reported to Mocker in an email which declared the matter, "closed."
But that wasn't true. Fifteen days later, the car was still there.
When carfax.com revealed to Mocker that the car was stolen in October 2009, he called New York's Department of Motor Vehicles. Within hours, the DMV dispatched investigators and a tow truck to remove and impound the car.
An official with the 311 system tells Mocker they're investigating what went wrong.
WHAT HAS THE CITY IGNORED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
DO YOU HAVE AN ABANDONED CAR PROBLEM?
EMAIL: MOCKER@WPIX.COM
