Bloomberg To Landlords: Restore Storm-Damaged Services, And Do It Now
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday he has sent letters to landlords, ordering them to restore services damaged by Superstorm Sandy as temperatures drop, and use the city's Rapid Repair Program if they have not done so.
As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, Bloomberg read the riot act to owners of buildings damaged by Sandy, where residents still lack basic services a month later. The landlords have a legal obligation to provide the services to tenants, Bloomberg said.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports
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The mayor said 25,000 people still live in those cold, dark places.
"Our message to the landlords is if you haven't done so yet, you must act immediately to restore safe and healthy living conditions for your tenants, and that includes providing your tenants with heat, hot water, and electrical service, and correcting all other health and safety problems," Bloomberg said Monday.
The mayor reminded landlords that power, heat and hot water can be restored for free through the Rapid Repair program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay the bill.
But Bloomberg warned that failure to cooperate will force the city to take enforcement action.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
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"The people who live in the city who don't have those services are our neighbors, and we are going to make sure that they are safe, and do everything we can to restore those services," Bloomberg said.
The landlords must act now, Bloomberg said, because the weather is getting colder and endangering the health and safety of thousands of tenants.
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