NYC summer comes as surprise to Con Ed yet again
My husband and I made a very narrow escape with the power outages in our 'hood this week. While all my NW Queens neighborhood friends continue to suffer; sans a/c, refrigeration and lighting, we got off lightly with just a dead elevator.
While I wont say I'm pleased exactly to be climbing 5 stories numerous times a day in my 8-month pregnant state, it's certainly a HECK of a lot better than trying to sleep at night without the benefit of drying, cooling air conditioning.
I've noticed my opinion of air conditioning has taken an 180 degree turn since arriving in the US five years ago this month. I argued with hubby back then about its necessity, preferring to bask in the glorious summer conditions hitherto unknown to me, growing up in chillier Scottish climes. Now, I fear I might expire if I have to go one single night without it.
My worst phobia right now is getting stuck in a subway with no a/c. How many times do I hear about that happening and thank the deities it wasn't me? Worse than overheating, I am truly, truly terrified of the 'bathroom' crisis that would surely arise in these situations. WHAT do these people DO? I can go no longer than one hour MAX without that need - and I've been that way since long before getting pregnant. I'm very, VERY curious to know what goes on in this regard - nobody ever talks about it!
While I wont say I'm pleased exactly to be climbing 5 stories numerous times a day in my 8-month pregnant state, it's certainly a HECK of a lot better than trying to sleep at night without the benefit of drying, cooling air conditioning.
I've noticed my opinion of air conditioning has taken an 180 degree turn since arriving in the US five years ago this month. I argued with hubby back then about its necessity, preferring to bask in the glorious summer conditions hitherto unknown to me, growing up in chillier Scottish climes. Now, I fear I might expire if I have to go one single night without it.
My worst phobia right now is getting stuck in a subway with no a/c. How many times do I hear about that happening and thank the deities it wasn't me? Worse than overheating, I am truly, truly terrified of the 'bathroom' crisis that would surely arise in these situations. WHAT do these people DO? I can go no longer than one hour MAX without that need - and I've been that way since long before getting pregnant. I'm very, VERY curious to know what goes on in this regard - nobody ever talks about it!
Like - those poor folks stuck on the Roosevelt Island tram for ELEVEN HOURS back in April. I think I could cope with the dehydration and the hunger, and probably even the inevitable attack of claustrophobia - but going #1 and #2 in front of strangers???!!! OMG!
Here's an article from the Daily News about our power outage - at least somebody is advocating for us second class Queens citizens...(thanks to Esther for forwarding)
Con Ed Coneheads
We understand that during a record-breaking heat wave, A/Cs crank on overtime and power usage soars. We understand that glitches can happen under such circumstances. But what we don't understand is why huge swaths of Queens, with hundreds of thousands of people, have been without electricity since Monday.
You'll forgive our ignorance because we come by it straight from Con Ed, which yesterday purported to be clueless as to why Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside, Long Island City and Hunters Point had been juiceless for days. It must have forgotten where the fuse box is located. That, or it's covering up misfeasance that will make stray voltage in manhole covers feel like a walk in the park.
Forgive our cynicism, but Con Ed has developed a track record for short-circuiting the truth when the truth is embarrassing. It has only hardened its reputation for glossing missteps by peddling a completely bogus count of how many people are sweating it out in the dark.
With straight faces, the company's public relations crew insisted yesterday that only 1,900 customers were without power. However, that refers to buildings with absolute zero voltage; many, many more might have some minimum voltage - but not nearly enough to restore full service. Worse, Con Ed defines "customer" in a rather devious way. A single, large apartment building containing, say, 100 units and several hundred tenants, is counted as one customer. One. Uno. One. See, the blackout isn't as bad as you think, New York!
Mayor Bloomberg credits Con Ed with trying its best under the circumstances. Whatever the circumstances are, that's not good enough. It is unacceptable that so many people have been without power for so long. It is unacceptable that subway service had to be cut. It is unacceptable that businesses are closed, and food is rotting in homes, groceries and restaurants, and traffic signals are out, and people in high-rises are trapped, and many have no water.
And all Con Ed can say is, "We're workin' on it."
Here's an article from the Daily News about our power outage - at least somebody is advocating for us second class Queens citizens...(thanks to Esther for forwarding)
Con Ed Coneheads
We understand that during a record-breaking heat wave, A/Cs crank on overtime and power usage soars. We understand that glitches can happen under such circumstances. But what we don't understand is why huge swaths of Queens, with hundreds of thousands of people, have been without electricity since Monday.
You'll forgive our ignorance because we come by it straight from Con Ed, which yesterday purported to be clueless as to why Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside, Long Island City and Hunters Point had been juiceless for days. It must have forgotten where the fuse box is located. That, or it's covering up misfeasance that will make stray voltage in manhole covers feel like a walk in the park.
Forgive our cynicism, but Con Ed has developed a track record for short-circuiting the truth when the truth is embarrassing. It has only hardened its reputation for glossing missteps by peddling a completely bogus count of how many people are sweating it out in the dark.
With straight faces, the company's public relations crew insisted yesterday that only 1,900 customers were without power. However, that refers to buildings with absolute zero voltage; many, many more might have some minimum voltage - but not nearly enough to restore full service. Worse, Con Ed defines "customer" in a rather devious way. A single, large apartment building containing, say, 100 units and several hundred tenants, is counted as one customer. One. Uno. One. See, the blackout isn't as bad as you think, New York!
Mayor Bloomberg credits Con Ed with trying its best under the circumstances. Whatever the circumstances are, that's not good enough. It is unacceptable that so many people have been without power for so long. It is unacceptable that subway service had to be cut. It is unacceptable that businesses are closed, and food is rotting in homes, groceries and restaurants, and traffic signals are out, and people in high-rises are trapped, and many have no water.
And all Con Ed can say is, "We're workin' on it."
posted by Yvonne at 8:00 AM
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