By Cynthia Koons
Two neighboring buildings, both managed by Algin Management, have suffered from a broken boiler and have had sporadic periods without heat, residents told Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) at a meeting in the lobby of 132-25 Maple Ave, one of the two residences.Joe Rooney, the manager of the building, said when reached by phone Tuesday said the system was working. The more than 9-year-old boiler, he said, was not working last week because of a faulty oil pump. Nearly 50 people gathered last Thursday, most of whom wore their winter coats and hats, at a chilly meeting as filled with clapping and yelling as it was with constructive discussion about solving the tenants' problems.”We are freezing. I have to sleep with my coat like this,” Jean Jannini, a 58-year-old resident, said, motioning to the zipped-up jacket he was wearing. “We've had problems with the boiler before, but this is the first time I've gone this long without heat.”The meeting was orchestrated by tenants' association president Edgar Albisurez, who has lived in the building for 30 years.”They never put up signing, they never let us know that the boiler was not working,” he said. “On the coldest weekend, which was this weekend, the super was not around.”Albisurez helped translate for the Spanish-speaking tenants, while Liu's press secretary, Ellen Young, interpreted information for the Chinese-speaking residents.Rooney said he was planning to put up signs this week to notify the residents of the situation with the boiler.Tenants also complained of rodents and pests in their apartments, to which Rooney said the management sent out exterminators twice a month.”We spend a lot of money for our apartments, we take a lot of care with our jobs, our families,” resident Roslyn Singh said. She asked if anyone else had roach problems in their apartments and everyone gathered in the lobby raised their hands.”Cucarachas! Muchas!” one woman yelled out.Temperatures hovered near the single digits on the windy Thursday evening that the meeting was held.”It's absolutely unacceptable that anyone should have to wear their winter coats at home,” Liu said. “This is something that we need the (Housing Preservation and Development agency) to pay attention to.”He said to be fair to the Housing Preservation and Development, some concessions should be made for the fact that a large number of weather-related complaints were reported during the cold spell.Albisurez said residents were keeping their apartments warm by turning their ovens on, sleeping in common rooms and wearing coats while they were home.”No one should have to deal with this kind of outrageous situation,” Liu said.Rooney said he had responded to all of the calls his office had received.”A lot of the calls are going to (Liu's) office so we were just trying to work with them. We were going to be putting up some notices,” he said. “Bottom line is the system is up.” Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
