Sumner Houses tenant says she has been living without power for a week
Living without power for a week has become the harsh reality for Jessica Rivera, a tenant at the Sumner Houses in Bed-Stuy.
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Living without power for a week has become the harsh reality for Jessica Rivera, a tenant at the Sumner Houses in Bed-Stuy.
Rivera, who has endured significant electrical problems in her NYCHA apartment, describes the situation as a constant source of fear and frustration.
“You know what it is to be in fear all night walking back and forth,” Rivera said.
She tells News 12 she started smelling what she said was burnt wire inside her NYCHA apartment at the Sumner Houses.
“And I thought, 'Oh my God, if I wouldn’t have gone up, I would’ve died,'” Rivera added. She said the FDNY left wires exposed because a NYCHA electrician was supposed to come and fix it but she said they never did.
“Every night I’m scared. I’m looking at this wire,” said Rivera.
She adds that her apartment is no stranger to electrical issues. Last October, Jessica told News 12 she had a flood and that's what sparked these conditions. Almost a year later, these tickets to fix her power are still sitting on her table. Shes running electrical cords around her home just to plug things in.
“It’s horrible because where we need the outlets to work is in our bedrooms when it’s time to sleep. It feels like 100 degrees in here, no lie,” Rivera said.
During a recent visit, a NYCHA reporter tested several outlets in Rivera’s apartment, finding that none worked. There are six outlets in her apartment that doesn't work.
A NYCHA employee visited her home Tuesday afternoon to inspect these conditions.
"So, no power here, no power over there,” the employee noted.
NYCHA responded to the situation, stating, “A NYCHA staff member visited the unit today to assess the necessary repairs, and electricians will be following up tomorrow to repair or replace the outlets.”
River says the primary concern remains clear.
“I want them to fix the problem,” she said.
