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Leaking radiators have turned a NYCHA apartment into a soggy and dangerous living space.
Michelle Phillips lives in the Sotomayor Houses in Soundview. She said both radiators in her apartment have been leaking for more than a week, sending water deep into the floors and leaving a strong smell of mildew.
"I'm very upset. I'm nervous," Phillips said.
Phillips told News 12 the water has soaked her carpet, bed and other belongings. She taped garbage bags to the floor and now wears shoes inside her home to avoid falling. She uses a walker and said the wet floors already caused her to slip a few times.
"It's wet and soggy. You don't want to be doing that," she said. "And then you get to the bathroom. The bathroom has regular tile floors, that's where you're gonna slide."
Phillips said she reached out to NYCHA several times. She said one worker came last week but couldn't shut the radiator off.
"They can't give you new floors until you get somebody to pay to come and take up all of the carpet," Phillips said. "But yet, if you were to fix the radiator, I wouldn't have had that problem."
After News 12 reached out to NYCHA, Phillips called back and said three workers went there and offered to remove the carpet and get rid of the water.
A spokesperson for NYCHA sent the following statement:
"NYCHA staff visited the apartment today and performed repairs on the two radiators. Additionally, staff will assist with carpet removal from the affected area and maintain an open line of communication with the resident to address any further concerns. Residents in need of assistance are encouraged to call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets through the MyNYCHA application."