Though apparently it takes years to get a sinkhole repaired in the East Village, the DEP rewards Nolita within the hour. Jen Bekman, owner of the Jen Bekman Gallery on Spring Street (@ Bowery/Elizabeth), emails:
there has been a sinkhole on my gallery's block for about a week now. a HUGE one. like, a gaping hole 5 feet across that people threw garbage into. there were police barricades up blocking traffic from the street, so i assumed that it was on the city's radar. but yesterday, it was still untouched, so i decided to report it to 311.within an hour, people from the DEP were here investigating the situation. this morning, the hole is fixed and the block is reopened to traffic. i am flush with civic pride and loving 311.