THE COUNTY CLERK HAS MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN RAISING
ITS SECURITY PROTECTION.
>>> IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD TO
LIVE WITHOUT GAS IN YOUR HOME
FOR A WEEK, MAYBE EVEN A MONTH,
YOU KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING THAT
CAN BE.
PEOPLE LIVING IN ONE BRONX
BUILDING SAY THEY HAVE LIVED
WITHOUT IT FOR 10 YEARS.
THEY SAY THEIR COMPLAINTS HAVE
BEEN IGNORED.
TODAY, THEY GAVE THE LANDLORD
AN ULTIMATUM.
THE PROBLEM OR NO RENT.
GABBY IS LIVE AT THE BUILDING.
>> Reporter: AS SHE JUST SAID,
10 YEARS WITHOUT GAS SERVICE.
IMAGINE THAT.
THEY HAVE SEEN CREWS IN THE
AREA RECENTLY WORKING ON THE
GAS LINES ISSUE BUT MUST STILL
BE INSIDE THE BUILDING BY
BUILDING MANAGEMENT.
IF PROGRESS IS NOT MADE BY THE
END OF THE MONTH, THEY WILL
PUSH FOR A RENT STRIKE.
>> IF THERE IS NO GAS, THERE
WILL BE NO RENT.
THE MELROSE SECTION OF THE
BRONX.
WHO SAY THEY HAVE BEEN
SURVIVING WITHOUT GAS USING
MAKESHIFT KITCHENS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
>> IT IS NOT FAIR, IT IS COOL.
>> FORCING TO COOK USING BUTANE
CANISTERS.
>> IT IS NOT FAIR THAT WE
CONSTANTLY HAVE TO BUY THEM.
>> ON THE NEXT FLOOR, JUAN
ORTEGA USES A SMALL GAS STOVE
TO PROVIDE DINNER FOR FIVE
MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE RISK OF
STORING GAS TANKS INSIDE HIS
KITCHEN.
THE BUILDING HAS BEEN FOR
CLOSURE PROCESS SINCE 2020.
WE REACHED OUT TO THE TEMPORARY
BUILDING MANAGEMENT APPOINTED
BY A JUDGE. I HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING I CAN WITHIN MY ROLE
AS RECEIVER TO BETTER THE
LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE
MOSTLY LATINO AND AFRICAN-
AMERICAN FAMILIES LIVING IN THE
BUILDING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF MANY YEARS
NEGLECT ARE HORRIBLY EXTREME.
>> LIVING LIKE THIS IS
HORRIBLE.
I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN
THE BATHROOM.
>> WE NOTICED THAT UNITS HAVE MAJOR INSTRUCTION ISSUES AND
PIPES LEAKING.
>> THAT COURT APPOINTED
TEMPORARY RECEIVER THAT
BUILDING MANAGEMENT HASN’T
INVESTED OVER $500,000 IN
EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND THAT IN
SOME CASES, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
FIRMS HAVE DECLINED TO DO THE
JOB DUE TO THE EXTREME CONDITIONS INSIDE THE BUILDING.