'Big step' taken to address major gas outage at Yonkers housing complex
"We're working diligently and won't take no for an answer to ensure our residents are made whole again," says Yonkers City Council President, Lakisha Collins-Bellamy.
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Yonkers city leaders say a big step is being made toward repairing a major utility outage at a housing complex. It has left hundreds of people without gas since last summer.
"It feels like a nightmare that you are not waking out of," says Evelyn Batista.
It has been a difficult nearly seven months for Batista and her family.
"You can't even cook food in your house on a regular stove," says Batista.
She lives in the Palisade Towers housing complex in Yonkers.
Residents there haven't had gas since last August.
That's when a series of leaks were found in a main gas line.
Since then, residents have been given hot plates and convection ovens for cooking.
Officials are planning to switch over the utility from gas to electric.
They've been working to get the funds to do so. They have a majority of that locked down.
Now, they're finally a step closer towards getting started on the work.
"Now we are issuing the 'RFP' to begin the process of soliciting bidders for the work," says Yonkers City Council President, Lakisha Collins-Bellamy.
The goal is to start work on Building 8 in early June with the others to follow.
Officials are hoping all the buildings are switched over to electric by the end of the year.
They previously told News 12 that repairing the gas line would have been even more expensive and disruptive to residents.
"We're working diligently and won't take no for an answer to ensure our residents are made whole again," Collins-Bellamy tells News 12.
Residents are calling this move a silver lining.
"That gives us hope," says Batista.
Longtime resident, Victor Mairena says he understands the work takes time.
"It is a big job, in life you have to adjust to whatever comes so we deal with it and we go forward," says Palisade Towers resident, Victor Mairena.
