Councilmen Paint NYCHA in ‘State of Emergency’

By MICHELLE CUMMINGS

 City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. on Thursday called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take drastic action in the city ‘s public housing projects, helping to restore heat and hot water to the beleaguered buildings where January’s unusually severe cold snap caused many boilers to break down.

 “The state could declare a state of emergency to allow for expedited bidding and contracting with outside companies,” said Cornegy at a press conference on the steps of City Hall.

 Cornegy (D-Brooklyn) asked for a meeting with Cuomo to discuss allocating more state funds to the New York City Housing  Authority to get boilers and heating systems repaired faster. 

“I think there’s a partnership that’s absolutely necessary,” he said. “Listen, it’s not a zero-sum game where one entity takes control and the other stays on the sidelines. This monster is so large that it will take a collaborative effort.”

A colleague echoed the requests.

“The appalling state of disrepair in NYCHA buildings is a serious health and safety hazard for residents,” Councilman Rory Lancman said

 Earlier this week in his State of the City address, Mayor Bill de Blasio also called for “addressing decades of neglect and the mistakes of the past” at the NYCHA.

And late last month de Blasio announced the city is investing $200 million to replace boilers and upgrade heating systems in 20 public housing projects, adding that the work would be done over the next four years.

 This timeline is causing panic among public housing residents. “The lives of 400,000 New Yorkers hang in the balance,” said Councilman Mark Gjonaj. “A promise to upgrade boilers by 2022 will not do. We must act now!”

 The substandard housing dilemma was dubbed by Councilman Gjonaj as “The tale of two tenants.” Gjonaj said.

 “It is clear that NYCHA is in crisis and in need of a complete overhaul,” concluded Menchaca.

Photo Credit:  Wiki Commons