As Winter Approaches, Comptroller Stringer Calls on NYCHA to Fix Disturbing Months-Long Gas Outages at Dozens of Developments and Restore Service to Residents Now

(New York, NY) – As winter approaches, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today called on the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to move urgently to restore gas service at over 40 NYCHA developments citywide, including at some developments which have been dangerously without gas for months on end. In a letter to Gregory Russ, Chairman and CEO of NYCHA, Comptroller Stringer demanded immediate attention to NYCHA’s disturbing failure to address natural gas leaks in a timely manner, which has led to gas cut-offs since April and June of 2019 at developments in the Bronx and Manhattan — while failing to be clear and transparent with residents about efforts to restore service. Comptroller Stringer called on NYCHA to reimburse tenants for the absence of this essential service, provide abatements on monthly bills, and deliver real solutions that go beyond the temporary hot-plates issued to homes without gas.

“NYCHA’s consistent inability to deliver essential services to its tenants is outrageous — and when residents are forced to live without gas for nearly a year, it’s shameful. That’s what is happening at dozens of developments across the city. Today, I am urging NYCHA to fulfill its responsibility to its tenants and restore gas service as soon as possible to all who are affected. Anything less is unacceptable,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “As we approach the holiday season, many families across the city are looking forward to gathering together and cooking a Thanksgiving turkey at home — a prospect that is being needlessly denied to too many NYCHA families as a result of the agency’s foot-dragging. NYCHA must do better.”

Gas outages force NYCHA tenants into precarious financial situations. In the absence of cooking gas, NYCHA has given tenants a single hotplate to put food on their family’s table — often forcing tenants to order prepared food from outside. Of course, not only is commercially prepared food more costly, it can be less healthy and less conducive to family wellbeing. At East River Houses, for example, the average income amounts to approximately $22,476 a year, which means that any change in tenants’ ability to cook at home must be regarded as a severe burden to residents.

Moreover, the Comptroller’s office has learned that NYCHA has failed to communicate clearly with residents. At the East River Houses, tenants were not told of scheduled meetings and were given no information about when service might be restored as part of a broader breakdown in communication with residents.

To read Comptroller Stringer’s letter, click here.

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