Tenants at the Breukelen Houses in Canarsie say they have lacked heat and hot water for the past two days amid the bitter cold, adding that it's a recurring problem.
Assemblyman Charles Barron called it a “life and death situation” inside the NYCHA complex, due to the freezing cold conditions outside.
“If you can cut taxes on the rich, then you need to take care of the poor, struggling, working families of NYCHA,” he said.
Calvin Drumgo, the Tenant Association president, called for a rent strike.
“We're tired of being a third-class citizen,” said Drumgo.
For more than a decade, tenants at the Breukelen Houses say their heat and hot water have been erratic and inconsistent. Many say they are using ovens and stovetops for warmth, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
A NYCHA spokesperson told News 12 that staff worked overnight to repair the boiler and that service was restored in the morning. They say any resident with issues can use the MyNYCHA app or call the Customer Contact Center, 718-707-7771 to file a work order 24 hours a day.