SeeClickFix disabled in City of Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Albany's administration has disabled SeeClickFix, a website and app for reporting city problems. It's the result of a recent ruling in the Henry E. Calabrese v. City of Albany case.

"The [New York State] Court [of Appeals] found that if somebody logs a complaint on SeeClickFix, that gives us ample notice," said Mayor Kathy Sheehan. "That we could be actually subject to significant damages which would cost taxpayers potentially millions of dollars."

Albany City Code states that if there's a road problem, like a pothole or a bump, it must be submitted in writing to the Commissioner of General Services. Mayor Sheehan said SeeClickFix was implemented to create and send online notices for less pressing matters. There was even a statement on the website:

"Because SeeClickFix is used by our residents, they depend on our residents to do lot cleanups to alert us to issues that they're having but if they're emergent situations, for example, if a sinkhole has been created, SeeClickFix isn't the right venue to let us know about that," explained Sheehan.

So the City deactivated the website and app.

Paul Harding, one of Calabrese's lawyers, criticized the City's decision. "They made a very quick decision. I think it's the wrong decision. I think the community needs to have the ability to communicate with the City about things that are dangerous."

"People can call 518-434-CITY," stated Sheehan.

"Almost like a metaphor for good luck. But you can call but that also will not in fact be prior written notice," said Harding.

"So written notice can come to 24 Eagle Street which is where City Hall is or you can send it, if it's a DGS issue, you can send it to that same address to the attention of the DGS Commissioner," added Sheehan.

Mayor Sheehan will be working with the City Council to get SeeClickFix up again following the Court of Appeals ruling. The New York Conference of Mayors sent NEWS10's Anthony Krolikowski the following statement:

"We are reviewing the court's decision so that we can develop appropriate guidance for our members on crafting local laws that clearly define what "written notice" means.  We believe such laws could be used in conjunction with software platforms like SeeClickFix so that the concerns of local residents can be addressed while still affording the protections and complying with the requirements associated with prior written notice," Barbara VanEpps, NYCOM Executive Director.