FAR ROCKAWAY, Queens (WABC) — The city is promising to get the heat and hot water flowing again for a building full of people in Queens, who say they’ve been without it since before the weekend snowstorm.<\/p>\n
A pot of boiling water is not for cooking Wednesday night. Resident Linda Cobia is using that, a space heater and a heated blanket to keep warm.<\/p>\n
“You know how it makes me feel? Homeless that’s paying rent. Now that’s some sad crap. Homeless that’s paying rent,” Cobia said.<\/p>\n
This is how people are living in NYCHA housing at 438 Beach 40th Street in Far Rockaway, in the clutches winter’s wrath.<\/p>\n
Queen and her son have been pummeled by snow and bitter coastal air.<\/p>\n
“During the storm… no heat. Before the storm… no heat,” Queen said. “Those frigid hypothermic weekends… no heat. And we probably won’t have any this weekend either.”<\/p>\n
Staying warm has turned into a science experiment for residents, testing their creativity and patience as they report not having adequate heat for much of this vicious winter.<\/p>\n
NYCHA resident Janique Falls says she’s filed over 40 tickets, from November 26 to now. She says she hasn’t gotten a response.<\/p>\n
“It’s always excuses from NYCHA housing,” Falls said.<\/p>\n
By the looks of it, not much is being done to keep warmth inside this building. Eyewitness News was on the second floor, where we found a window slightly cracked open, allowing cold air to seep into the halls.<\/p>\n
Eyewitness News tallied 311 complaints for lack of heat citywide Friday through Tuesday. The Bronx had the most. Of the 15,000-plus total complaints, more than two thirds were still open as of Wednesday. About 5,000 of the heat complaints also include lack of hot water – a common occurrence in Far Rockaway.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson told Eyewitness News on Wednesday night, “NYCHA heating staff have made the necessary repairs, and the heating system’s tanks are currently being filled. We anticipate heat and hot water service restoration in the coming hours.”<\/p>\n
Residents hope it’s not an empty promise in the middle of a dangerously brutal cold stretch.<\/p>\n
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