New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today announced that the City settled 437 claims with individuals who damaged City property, collecting more than $1.08 million in Fiscal Year 2005.

"It is standard practice that if you break something, you have to pay for it," Thompson said. "My office has been more aggressive in instituting this practice when it comes to City property. If you damage or destroy the City's police vehicles, streetlights, hydrants or trees, you should expect that you will have to foot the bill."

Affirmative claims are those claims that the City brings against an individual or company for damages to City property.

During Fiscal Year 2005, the Comptroller's Office settled 437 affirmative claims in cooperation with the New York City Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Transportation, Department of Sanitation, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Health and Hospitals Corporation. Those claims generated $ 1,084,054 , representing an increase of $25,107 over Fiscal Year 2004, when $ 1,058,947 was collected.

The largest number of affirmative claims were those against individuals who damaged NYPD vehicles. Of the 437 claims, 392 were claims regarding the Police Department.

The largest settlement for Fiscal Year 2005 was $30,000. In this claim, the City sought restitution from Sunset Park LLC, a developer, who had removed several trees without a permit on Staten Island . According to the New York City Charter, an individual must have authorization or a permit to remove or prune a tree that is under the jurisdiction of the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation.

"Trees are extremely important to the City's urban environment," Thompson said. "Trees not only provide foliage to our urban landscape but also provide shade, oxygen and a home for local wildlife."

In January 2003, Comptroller Thompson added personnel to strengthen his office's affirmative claims unit. Since then, the office has reached 1,127 settlements and collected more than $2.7 million in damages to City property.

Thompson said his office will continue to aggressively pursue these cases.

"We will continue to expand our affirmative claims efforts to bring much needed money back to the City," Thompson said.

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