Wyckoff Avenue tenants say more leaks found following leak last week

Jacob Sacks, the building’s landlord, says cat litter caused the waste line leak and shared a photo as evidence.

Katelynn Ulrich

Nov 20, 2024, 11:58 AM

Updated 11 days ago

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Tenants frantically called News 12 last Thursday for help as water rained down from their ceilings at 291 Wyckoff Ave.
Jacob Sacks, the building’s landlord, says cat litter caused the waste line leak and shared a photo as evidence.
A tenant asked the plumbing team about that and sent News 12 video.
“Did you see cat litter?” one tenant was asked.
“I didn’t pay attention. I didn’t see that,” a plumbing worker said.
Those workers and Sacks confirm the main leak was repaired but tenants say workers found other leaks.
“There’s flooring on the ceiling to cover the leak,” one worker said in a video. “That white thing is like a guard. They put that right underneath the leak. And if you follow the white pipe going out the window—that’s insane.”
In one lower-floor apartment, the now-open ceiling reveals multiple white trays placed under the original plumbing, with a pipe fused into them, running water straight to the backyard.
“It’s like he seals it up and makes a $5 fix,” one tenant said.
Sacks initially told News 12 it sounded like a temporary solution while major repairs were underway. However, when informed that workers discovered the setup while making those repairs, Sacks did not respond.
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development was notified about the conditions.
A spokesperson said the building is part of the Alternative Enforcement Program, and that team will follow-up.