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July 26-Aug. 1, 2019 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
ALSO COVERING ELMHURST, JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND CITY, MASPETH, MIDDLE VILLAGE, REGO PARK, SUNNYSIDE
Power outages make life hell in Qns.
Heat wave blackout and subway meltdown draws criticism aimed at Con Edison
BY MAX PARROTT
Con Edison suffered its second
widespread power outage on Sunday
night in the course of a week. At the
tail end of the heat wave rippling
through the city this weekend, 19,000
residents were left without power
citywide, including some in Far
Rockaway, where the power outages
caused subway disruptions.
Nearly 1,400 customers in
Southeastern Queens reportedly
experienced power outages Saturday
evening. As a result of the outages,
the MTA reported that A train and
Rockaway Park shuttles service lost
power Saturday evening, causing
service to be disrupted until after
10 p.m.
The utility reportedly restored
all power to Queens customers
around 6:15 p.m., but the company’s
concerns in the borough didn’t end
there.
It also issued a note to residents
in Woodside and Sunnyside on
Sunday urging them to conserve
energy reducing the usage of nonessential
electronic devices and
appliances, such as clothes washers,
dryers, dishwashers and unneeded
lighting.
At a press conference on Monday,
July 22 in Mill Basin, Brooklyn,
where the majority of the outages
this weekend took place, Mayor de
Blasio blasted the company’s refusal
to provide a substantial explanation
of what both of its latest debacles.
“I’m calling for a full
investigation and further that we
examine whether we need a new
entity to handle this situation going
forward. Because at this point I do
not have faith in Con Ed.
He continued to vent his
frustration, suggesting that a public
agency would be more effective at
providing energy to the city than
the private company, which has
been in service since 1823.
“I think we have to look at
this from scratch now. They’re
not doing their job and they’re
not giving real answers. Is it now
time to do something different,”
de Blasio said.
Mayor de Blasio is not the only
one considering alternatives to
the energy provider. Councilman
Costa Constantinides will join
the New York City Democratic
Socialists of America tonight to
host a town hall on Con Edison’s
current request to raise electricity
and gas prices.
The forum, which will collect
public testimony on the rate hike,
will begin at 7 p.m. at P.S. 22 in
Astoria.
Reach reporter Max Parrott by
email at mparrott@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260-2507.
Photos by Jenna Bagcal/QNS
Vol. 7 No. 30 44 total pages
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