Mayor calls on landlords to fix storm-damaged properties

Mayor calls on landlords to fix storm-damaged properties

Four weeks after Superstorm Sandy hit our area, the mayor said residential buildings have no reason to still be without heat, hot water, or electricity.

Most of the five boroughs have electricity back, but Mayor Mike Bloomberg said about 10,000 LIPA and Con Edison accounts are still without power. Most are multifamily homes and apartment buildings.

The mayor said nothing should be standing in the way of landlords fixing homes in order to get power back.

"Landlords must take action to improve building conditions for their tenants – it's their legal obligation," Bloomberg said. "The City, though our Rapid Repairs program, has the resources to help make the fixes needed to restore essential services. Landlords must put these resources to work now, as the weather gets colder and health risks increase."

The NYC Rapid Repairs program has teams of contractors that will hook up the electricity, heat, and hot water. FEMA will pick up the tab.

About 7,500 people have signed up since the service was announced Nov. 9, the AP reported.

Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said no one should underestimate how dangerous living in the cold can be.