Gas and utility outages have long plagued tenants in aging New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings. This month, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law that expands the definition of vital services to include gas and would fast-track NYCHA gas outage repairs.
The law, S220B/A3866, was sponsored by Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie and Assemblymember Chantel Jackson. The bill requires NYCHA to remedy gas service interruptions as soon as possible by coordinating with relevant city, state, and utility company partners and quickly applying for permits necessary to make such repairs. It also mandates that NYCHA make efforts to update residents as often as possible.
“Like so many of our strongest bills, the idea for this legislation came directly from our constituents, who told us horror stories about gas outages that routinely last for days, weeks, or even months,” said Myrie. “NYCHA residents shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves with [having to use] hotplates and meal deliveries while government agencies and utility companies point fingers at each other. This legislation will ensure meaningful communication with residents and better coordination [for] timely repairs.”
As of October 9, there are 41 active gas outages at NYCHA developments across the city, according to www.my.nycha.info, and four heat and hot water service interruptions and 80 elevator outages at NYCHA buildings citywide.
“My district [has] 21 NYCHA developments,” said Jackson. “One of the main complaints I receive from my constituents who live in NYCHA [buildings] is disruptions in vital services like hot water, electricity, or gas. All New Yorkers, no matter their income or neighborhood, deserve transparency when services that impact their quality of life are disrupted.”
NYCHA’s Tenant Association (TA) presidents are often left to complain about outages to higher-ups on behalf of residents for weeks or months. They seemed excited by the law and hope it would actually work.
“As a NYCHA resident, I am pleased to hear this news. On many occasions, Redfern Houses has experienced gas outages, mostly in the winter months,” said Eugenia Gibson, TA president of Beach 41st Street Houses in Queens, in a statement. “I have also expressed concerns to NYCHA about more than hotplates or crockpots for residents … [many of] these items do not fit residents’ baking needs. I asked NYCHA if residents would receive any rent breaks or compensation for the months the gas was out. But, with this bill, I trust residents will not live four, five, or more months without gas any longer.”
Ciprian Noel, president of the Langston Hughes Apartments TA, added that “when we ask questions about utility disruptions, NYCHA, the city, and the gas company blame each other and give us the runaround.”