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COMMUNITY OP-ED                                                     OCTOBER 18, 2024       |  The Indian Eye 12


            Keeping New Yorkers Safe and




                  Warm This Fall and Winter







         Fall and winter are different than they used to be. With climate change leading to more frequent and intense
          cold, a storm can be more than just uncomfortable — it can be dangerous or even life threatening. That is

                 why New York City is getting ready in advance — and we want all New Yorkers to be ready, too






















                   ERIC ADAMS

               ew Yorkers deserve safe,
               warm, and comfortable liv-
        Ning conditions during fall and
        winter, and the city is here to make
        sure they get it.
            Last week, heat season started
        in New York City. While cold and
        winter weather can bring danger-
        ously low temperatures, heavy snow,
        strong winds, ice, sleet, and freezing     These heat regulations are designed to protect New Yorkers health and safety. Heat is not a luxury, it is a necessity that
        rain, landlords and property owners                                 all New Yorkers deserve (File/Agency Photo)
        across the city are required to main-
        tain heating and safe indoor tem-
        peratures for their tenants between   serve. New Yorkers without access to   and collected more than $3.5 million   tion has fought to protect our city’s
        October 1st and May 31st.         heating are unprotected and at risk   in various penalties associated with   tenants. Whether by launching the
            That’s why we are hitting the   during the heat season. People can   these types of violations.   city’s  first-ever  Tenant  Protection
        ground running this season, making   get sick, injured, and possibly even   Fall and winter are different than   Cabinet, initiating the Public En-
        our city work better  for everyday,   die from cold temperatures and win-  they used to be. With climate change   gagement Unit’s live operator tenant
        working-class people. The city’s De-  ter storms.                   leading to more frequent and intense   helpline  to  provide  immediate  sup-
        partment of Housing Preservation      Every day, New Yorkers work   cold, a storm can be more than just   port to New York tenants, or secur-
        and Development has mobilized     hard to build a better future for   uncomfortable — it can be danger-  ing the largest civil right settlement in
        across  the  five  boroughs  to  remind   themselves, their kids, and their fam-  ous or even life threatening. That is   city history — that issued $1 million
        tenants and owners about their re-  ilies. But we all know we cannot have   why New York City is getting ready   in civil penalties and set aside 850
        sponsibilities to keep New Yorkers   a truly livable city with a housing and   in advance — and we want all New   apartment units for voucher holders
        warm and safe.                    affordability  crisis  continuing  to  lin- Yorkers to be ready, too.  — our administration has used every
            When outdoor temperatures     ger. New Yorkers need our support,    Having heat is one of the most   tool  possible  to  tell  New  York  City
        drop below 55 degrees, indoor tem-  and we are giving it to them by en-  effective ways to guard against cold   tenants, ‘we’ve got your backs.’
        peratures must be maintained at a   suring they have heat during the fall   storm emergencies. So, if your apart-  This administration has made
        minimum of 68 degrees during the   and winter.                      ment is cold, report the issue to your   public safety the center of everything
        day between 6 AM and 10 PM.  And      And we have been very clear,  landlord immediately. If the problem   we do, and that includes preparing
        indoor temperature must be main-  when landlords and property owners   persists, contact 311 for assistance.  for weather emergencies and keep-
        tained  to at  least  62  degrees  over-  violate our heating regulations, the   If low-income property owners are   ing New York City tenants safe and
        night, regardless of the temperature.  city and the Housing Preservation   struggling, they can reach out to the   warm in their homes this heat season.
            These heat regulations are de-  and Development team will hold   Home Energy Assistance Program   Let’s work together to make the fall
        signed to protect New Yorkers health   them accountable. Last year, the city   for help with heating bills and equip-  and winter season our safest ever.
        and safety. Heat is not a luxury, it is   responded in record time to 144,000   ment repairs.              Eric Adams is the Mayor of
        a necessity that all New Yorkers de-  heat and hot water related problems   From day one, our administra-     New York City, NY


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