New York City is bracing for another brutal weekend under subzero winds and frigid temperatures, but for many residents, winter's chill extends far beyond the forecasted lows.
The city has hit a record number of heat complaints this January, with nearly 80,000 calls made to the city's 311 system as tenants struggle to keep their homes warm. This tops last year's total by more than 3,000 and marks an "all-hands-on-deck situation" according to officials at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
While many issues are resolved within hours, some residents are finding themselves without heat or hot water for days on end. Residents in buildings owned by companies facing financial woes are particularly affected, with some dealing with chronic problems that have been ongoing for months.
The situation is becoming increasingly stressful for those impacted, who say they're being held to higher standards when repairs fail to materialize. "It just feels like harassment," said one resident, who has been living in a mixed-use building with gas outages and inconsistent heat. The owner of the property is working to address these issues but residents are calling on them to take action.
Other areas of the city are also struggling, including NYCHA's Amsterdam Addition development on the Upper West Side, where nearly 300 residents lost their heat and hot water last Thursday morning. NYCHA officials say crews worked quickly to restore services, but many residents remain without heat, leaving them feeling frustrated and cold.
Landlords groups blame the complexity of fixing these issues on multiple agencies and professionals, creating delays that leave residents shivering in the dark. "Turning the heat back on quickly is not something a building owner can just do," said one spokesperson for the New York Apartment Association.
As bone-chilling conditions grip the city for what promises to be another brutal weekend, officials are urging residents to look out for one another and report any issues promptly.
The city has hit a record number of heat complaints this January, with nearly 80,000 calls made to the city's 311 system as tenants struggle to keep their homes warm. This tops last year's total by more than 3,000 and marks an "all-hands-on-deck situation" according to officials at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
While many issues are resolved within hours, some residents are finding themselves without heat or hot water for days on end. Residents in buildings owned by companies facing financial woes are particularly affected, with some dealing with chronic problems that have been ongoing for months.
The situation is becoming increasingly stressful for those impacted, who say they're being held to higher standards when repairs fail to materialize. "It just feels like harassment," said one resident, who has been living in a mixed-use building with gas outages and inconsistent heat. The owner of the property is working to address these issues but residents are calling on them to take action.
Other areas of the city are also struggling, including NYCHA's Amsterdam Addition development on the Upper West Side, where nearly 300 residents lost their heat and hot water last Thursday morning. NYCHA officials say crews worked quickly to restore services, but many residents remain without heat, leaving them feeling frustrated and cold.
Landlords groups blame the complexity of fixing these issues on multiple agencies and professionals, creating delays that leave residents shivering in the dark. "Turning the heat back on quickly is not something a building owner can just do," said one spokesperson for the New York Apartment Association.
As bone-chilling conditions grip the city for what promises to be another brutal weekend, officials are urging residents to look out for one another and report any issues promptly.
its like literally freezing over there lol & 80k calls? that's crazy! i've been there tho where my ac breaks down n i have to call the landlord 5 times b4 they respond & it gets super frustrating 
i hope the city can get it together & fix these issues ASAP we cant have ppl living in misery 
especially with all the delays caused by ppl who dont wanna take responsibility. btw, has anyone tried those new portable heaters tho? 
. But honestly, 80k heat complaints is crazy and I'm no expert, but it feels like a lot of these issues are being caused by these companies trying to save a buck 
instead of actually fixing the problems 
. And it's not just the lack of heat that's the issue, it's the fact that people are going without hot water too 
. Like, can't we all just have some basic human decency here? It's freezing outside and people need to stay warm in their own homes, you know?
. But you know what's even more shocking than the temps? The fact that 80k+ people have called in about heat complaints already this January is just mind-blowing... like how did we not see this coming? 
. I mean, we knew it was gonna be cold, but to think of all those ppl struggling with no heat or hot water for days on end is just heartbreaking 
. And to add insult to injury, there's that landlord thing going on where it feels like they're more worried about the delays than the actual people who are freezing 
. Anyways, I hope everyone stays warm and safe this weekend! 
, 80k heat complaints is crazy 
, someone needs to step up & help these people ASAP 
, can't imagine having no heat or hot water for days, that's just brutal 
, especially when you're not living in a building owned by the city, gotta feel like they're being left high and dry 
. maybe it's time for some changes so no one has to go through this again 
. And honestly, landlords saying they can't turn on the heat? That's just not a good excuse 
.