Skip to content
Council Discourse

NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

Created by Uzair Qadir

Inspired by Vikram Oberoi's City Meetings

Q&A

Brewer and Esposito discuss hydrant blocking enforcement

New York City Council · Jun 1, 2026 · starts 5:07:44 · 53 sec

Brewer asks about hydrant blocking enforcement. Esposito says they work with NYPD for enforcement and will issue criminal court summonses and tow vehicles that impede fire operations, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines.

Gale A. Brewer

Hydrants being blocked.

Gale A. Brewer

Is that something that is improving?

John Esposito

And we saw great results with that.

Gale A. Brewer

I noticed on my blocks, I can't believe that people actually leave their car unattended at a hydrant.

John Esposito

So we're going to keep pushing that and getting the word out.

John Esposito

When there is a fatal fire, we do send education teams to that neighborhood, to that building, to get the word out.

John Esposito

We continue to see that.

John Esposito

We work with the police department for enforcement.

John Esposito

We continue with the messaging.

John Esposito

When it does impede our operations at a serious fire, we'll have our fire prevention folks issue a criminal court summons and have the car towed, which results in thousands of dollars of fine.

John Esposito

The messaging.

John Esposito

But I agree, it's an issue that we're seeing across the city.

John Esposito

That we did not historically see.

Gale A. Brewer

Okay, so I guess, I mean, I'm just saying that should be a major, not just by you, but by the mayor, an education campaign, like, you know, do social media on that as you do on other topics, because I see it all the time.

Gale A. Brewer

I don't think people understand that it's illegal or they're just not paying any attention.