Has anybody ever received the Sidewalk Repair Rebate from the City of LA? What about parkway tree removal permits? (house)

[scubacat]

Hello! I applied for the Sidewalk Rebate last December and have been on a waiting list ever since, and am wondering if anyone here has every successfully gotten the rebate? I've been calling 311 and nobody knows how long the waiting list is, and the Bureau of Engineering doesn't answer their phones. I have some dangerous eucalyptus trees that are tearing up the sidewalk, and I often see people trip on the sidewalk (including myself). The trees have dropped massive branches multiple times (main branches off the trunk--at least 12 inches in diameter and 20 feet long) that have caused damage to my house and sewer lines. Thankfully nobody has been hurt, but I really need these trees removed before they kill somebody and I need the sidewalks repaired before someone gets seriously injured in a fall. It's going to cost me $5000 for the tree removal (if the city will grant me a permit) plus another several thousand for the sidewalk repair. I just don't have that kind of money to spend repairing the city's property, but I understand it is the homeowner's responsibility if I want it done.

Has anyone successfully received the Sidewalk Rebate? Is it worth it? What's the timeline for processing the rebate application?

Has anyone had any luck getting a parkway tree removal permit when the sidewalk is seriously damaged from the tree roots? I had a tree trimming company come out for an estimate and he told me it would be very difficult to get a removal permit, but I've had other companies give me estimates and nobody else said it would be hard to get the permit.

Finally, since it's the city's property but the homeowner is responsible for paying for repairs, who is liable if someone gets injured from the tree falling or if they trip on the sidewalk? My biggest concern in this whole issue is that I don't want to get sued from someone getting injured.