I disagree with Andy. The property owner is responsible for shoveling snow and ice and keeping it free of debris but it is my understanding that the city owns the sidewalks and it is their job to repair them.

http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/ChiefAdministrator/infrastructure.asp

@Liz: yeah, there's wiggle room in defining what the city's role is, but the line, "..though the City can force a property owner to fix a physical defect of which it becomes aware (or lien the property owner for the cost of the repair if the owner does act) if the defect was not caused by the City." is pretty damning. Technically speaking, the residents/property owners own all public roads and walkways in the city, so if a sidewalk is damaged, banged up, upheaved, etc., can you prove the city did it? My experience is that the city tells the property owner to fix their sidewalk. The same is true if it happens in front of your home. The real problem is that we have lazy, uncaring property owners plaguing our city, and they need to be held responsible. It's a cost of owning property (including your own home). And, quite frankly, I'd like to see property owners be held responsible for the blight on their own property instead of taxpayers being on the hook for it.

This particular sidewalk heave is being caused by the adjacent city-owned street tree's root system pushing the sidewalk up, so it the City's responsibility. It should be noted that this hazard has grown measurably over the winter and agreed it is now a substantial hazard. WVRA and DPW have an open contract with a sidewalk contractor, who will recommence work in the Village in late April and we will make sure this section is shaved down and leveled as part of that work.

So many broken sidewalks, so much money aimed at blowing up sidewalks overseas and so little aimed at fixing them here.