The city’s Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and Bronx
Borough President Vanessa Gibson toured the Fort Independence Houses in
Kingsbridge, where tenants have complained about issues for months.
Tiara Napier's 13th-floor apartment was the first stop on
the tour. She says she worries about keeping her three kids warm enough to
sleep at night, especially her newborn and her teen with cerebral palsy. She
knows her only options are dangerous after the Twin Parks tragedy.
"I use the space heaters and then, if it's
really cold, I have to unfortunately turn on the oven, which is not a safe
thing," she said.
Other tenants told a similar story, but expanded to include
lack of hot water, leaks and mold.
Officials told News 12 that a mobile boiler outside the
building was installed over two months ago to help temporarily with heat and
hot water issues in the building.
Gibson called for the federal government to step in.
"We want money, we want resources, $80 billion that we
stand to get in the Build Back Better Act," she said outside the NYCHA
apartment building.
NYCHA says they anticipate restoring the permanent internal
boiler in early spring. They say they've invested more than $1 million on
refurbishing the boilers and installing the mobile boiler at Fort Independence.