The problem: Sunken pavement in front of a business in Baltimore's Central Forest Park neighborhood is left unrepaired.
The back story: Watchdog doesn't keep statistics, but the response time for this week's feature has to be a record.
Thaddeus Tucker noticed a sinkhole in front of his business, Liberty Bright Inc., a laundromat at the corner of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard. Some repair work had been done, but it was patched in a shoddy way.
"I understand there are certain things that take priority," Tucker said. But "someone's front end is going to get broken up because of this hole."
He measured the hole as about 3 feet by 3 feet, 9 inches deep. "It's the size of a bus tire," Tucker said.
Concerned that motorists and others forced into that lane would hit the hole, Tucker decided to paint a white semicircle around the sunken area as a precaution. Still, he watched a cyclist hit the hole and fall off his bike.
Tucker contacted 311 to report the hole in March, but there had been no response. So he called Watchdog.
"I learned from being in the military the chain of command," he said.
Tucker kept the confirmation number for his service request, and Watchdog forwarded that to Adrienne Barnes in Baltimore's Department of Transportation.
Less than six hours after that communication exchange, Tucker called Watchdog again, this time to express his thanks. The hole had been repaired.
Barnes said Tucker's report had been entered in the system March 19 and listed as completed April 13, but it was for the wrong address — the 3400 block of Liberty Heights, not the 3900 block, where it intersects with Garrison Boulevard.
"It was never in the system," she said. "When I sent that information, that was the first they had ever heard of it."
The hole was caused by recent utility work, Barnes said.
Who can fix this: Randall Scott, traffic division chief, Baltimore Department of Transportation, 443-984-2150. City residents should call 311 to report problems.
Correction: Last week's Watchdog incorrectly stated that city residents could request a turn signal study in their community by using the online 311 request form at https://baltimore.customerservicerequest.org. Readers should instead call 311 to make the request. Watchdog regrets the error.
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Is there something in your neighborhood that's not getting fixed? Tell us where the problem is and how long it's been there by e-mailing watchdog@baltsun.com or calling 410-332-6735.