Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Law & Order: Street Conditions Observation Unit
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 18, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 18, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The other day, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a new way the city will be able to monitor streets and make sure they are in good repair: The Street Conditions Observation Unit (SCOUT). SCOUT inspectors will "drive every City street once per month and report conditions that negatively impact quality of life to 311." The inspectors will use their Blackberrys to report things like graffiti, clogged sewers, potholes, damaged bus shelters, and more.
Mayor Bloomberg explained, "It's government's responsibility to find the problems and fix them, not to sit there and say 'Duh we didn't know.' That's not what good government is all about, that's not what customer service is all about." Of course, Gothamist is all for this (and wish we could join a SCOUT citizens' unit) but it also seems like stuff the city should be doing anyway. The Mayor also demonstrated driving the SCOUT vehicles and promised "You would expect to see after a period, by the spring maybe . . . a material reduction in the number of rough streets and potholes."
Bloomberg is very enthusiastic about the program; he told reporters, "It'd be nice if when you see a SCOUT guy ... you honk your horn and say, 'Way to go, baby, you're making my city [better]!' Now, then we'll get a noise complaint... but that's another issue." And while the inspectors are expected to add almost 50% more calls to 311, the inspectors will not write tickets or report on noise pollutions or homeless, according to the Post.
The city also announced that its street cleanliness Scorecard found NYC streets to be a record-breaking 94.3% "acceptably clean" during the 2007 fiscal year. The press release mentioned that "even the lowest performing area in the city - Section 2, located in Brooklyn Community Board 3, which encompasses densely populated transportation hubs in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant Heights, and Ocean Hill - had 82.1% of streets rated 'acceptably clean,' the highest rating it has ever received. " In May, the city announced that the cleanest streets in the city were in residential neighborhoods, like Staten Island's Great Kills, Queens' Douglaston and Little Neck, and the Bronx's Riverdale.
Tagged
baby
bloomberg
breaking
bronx
brooklyn
bus
city
community
community board
customer service
gothamist
government
graffiti
great kills
heights
homeless
In May
little neck
mayor
mayor bloomberg
Neighborhoods
News: NYC
nyc
Politics
queens
staten island
the city
The Mayor
The Program
transportation
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate
The Democratic incumbent repeatedly invoked President Donald Trump. The Republican challenger largely avoided bringing up New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
By
Mike Hayes
Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .