The long-simmering political rivalry between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio came to a head of sorts the other day when the Governor signed into state law legislation he championed transferring effective control of repairing the heating systems in public housing in New York City. Public housing heating became a big issue in New York City when it was learned that thousands of tenants in New York City Housing Authority apartments were going through the New York winter without steam or hot water.
However, the Mayor said, it would take many months to begin the repairs because the problem with the heating infrastructure was long in developing: “The folks who work at NYCHA are trying to hold something together…that really should’ve gotten investment a long time ago.” Of course, Mr. De Blasio is in his fifth year of being in charge of the city.
Three points: Had the inadequate heating and hot water been in private sector housing, reduced rents, fines and imprisonments would have quickly become the order of the day. Second, the Mayor had nothing to say about the use of portable boilers in the emergency. (Yes, they would cost a lot, but then again you have people of all ages and healthiness, and they are your responsibility.) And finally, the Mayor presents himself as being in the forefront of the progressive movement and dedicated to improving the lot of the poor and needy. To say the least, that this crisis could have happened on his watch and he essentially turned a deaf ear to NYCHA tenants, seems to us the height of hypocrisy.