Recently, my city released its newsletter with an article reminding citizens that the sidewalk in front of their property is their responsibility to maintain. They also posted the phone number where you could call to report unsafe sidewalks in front of others' property. The sidewalk in front of my neighbor's house has a 6" hump due to tree roots.
I bought my house almost 10 years ago, and in that time, my neighbor has done little to no maintenance on their property. Their fence is falling down, the roof has enough moss on it that it might be an eco roof at this point, and they've had a broken-down truck in their driveway with 4 flat tires that was there before I moved in. Their backyard is 100% blackberry brambles, and it is a constant fight cutting them back when they try to creep over our fence. But, they've also been quiet and never caused us any problems beyond the blackberries and being an eyesore.
I want to report the sidewalk because it is honestly unsafe. My son has fallen off his scooter many times because of it. I think the reporting is anonymous, but I also feel guilty forcing them to incur a potentially large bill to fix the sidewalk. The city's policy is that if they investigate and decide a repair is needed, you need to fix it within a time frame, or else the city will and then send you a bill.
WIBTA if I reported the sidewalk?
Edit to Add: Since many people seem to be confused about the responsibility in my city, I can ensure that they do mean fixing a broken sidewalk, not just clearing ice/trash/debris.
From our city ordinance:
12.05.080 Maintenance of Sidewalks, Curbs, Driveway Approaches, and Landscaping Strips.
A. The owner(s) of land abutting any street in the city shall be responsible for constructing, reconstructing, maintaining and repairing the sidewalks, curbs, driveway approaches, and landscaping strips in the public way abutting or immediately adjacent to said land and shall also be responsible for removing ice, snow, trash, and other deleterious materials from the sidewalks and driveway approaches in the public way abutting or immediately adjacent to said land.
B. Said property owner(s) shall be liable for any and all damages to any person who is injured or otherwise suffers damage resulting from the defective condition of any sidewalk, curb, driveway approach, or parking/landscaping strip in the public way adjacent to said land, or by reason of the property owner's failure to keep such sidewalk, curb, driveway approach, or parking/landscaping strip in safe condition and good repair.
C. When the director determines that construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or repair of a sidewalk is necessary, the director shall issue written notice to the owner of the property abutting or immediately adjacent to the deficient or defective sidewalk. The notice shall require the owner of the property adjacent to the deficient or defective sidewalk to complete the construction or repair of the sidewalk or remedy the defective condition within sixty days after service of the notice.