Gas Leaks: Whose Fault is IT? NYCHA OR Con Ed?

Throggs Neck tenants are fighting to survive the rest of summer, as they deal with a gas outage that started Friday, July 28 in two connected apartment buildings.

Tenants fail to understand why and how this happened as the cause remains under investigation. The first meeting was held on Wednesday, August 2 when tenants met with the neighborhood President Monique Johnson and NYCHA representatives. They claimed the buildings gas would be back on by the end of August. No representative from Con Edison was there.

One tenant who happens to work for Con Ed claimed fulfilling that assumption is not possible. As NYCHA ignored her response, she explained to the tenants that she has seen records showing ConEd came to turn off the gas yet she doesn’t see that they’ve processed the next step. The young woman explained that in cases like these there are numerous steps that have to be taken. She explained, “first they cut the gas off, then they investigate to see where the leak is coming from, then there’s a process where they have to put in a notice for a construction permit, which alone can take up to 30 days by itself.”

One tenant argued, “If the paperwork alone is going to take up to 30 days you [NYCHA] know my gas is not going to be cut on in 30 days. We’re going into 2 or 3 months now.”

There will be weekly meetings with updates on how the process is going.

In the meantime NYCHA has teamed up with City Councilman Mark GJonaj to offer support to tenants while the gas is out by holding free weekly fish fries and barbecues in their local center strictly for those without gas. NYCHA has also given out hot plates to each household.

The meeting also discussed opportunities for tenants to receive extra food stamps as needed, even for those who may not meet the requirements to receive food stamps. NYCHA also discussed assistant programs for seniors who are homebound and for those who suffer from illnesses that prevent then from being able to cook and shop for themselves. These programs consist of food delivery services such as Department for the Aged (DFTA), Meals on Wheels, and God’s Love We Deliver.

While NYCHA may think it has won over the people with all the extra help, tenants still left the meeting uneasy about when their homes are going to be safe and normal again.