Council Member Stephen Levin is calling for changes in the 311 system following a gas line rupture that left six families and a congregation that serves over 50 community members without heat in Williamsburg last weekend. Levin is sending a letter to Mindy Tarlow, New York City’s Director of the Office of Operations, requesting that city agencies and utility companies be able to coordinate during emergency situations.

The situation in Williamsburg originated Friday, January 17 when the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was digging on the road in front of 122-124 Harrison Avenue. After smelling gas and receiving confirmation that the gas line ruptured during DEP construction, the families living in these buildings called 311 for assistance. To their dismay, they were told their issue would have to be dealt with by National Grid and that the City cannot help.

Levin is calling on the Office of Operations to correct this problem so that New Yorkers have a direct line to essential services and utilities, like National Grid, and can communicate gas line emergencies to them in an efficient manner.

See attachment or below for the full text of the letter:

January 22, 2014

Dear Ms. Tarlow,

First, let me congratulate you on your new role in the Mayor’s Office of Operations. I am thrilled to be working with you and excited about what someone with your skills and experience can accomplish in this role.

I am writing today because six families and a congregation that serves over 50 community members in the district I represent did not receive appropriate assistance from 311 when they were left without heat after a gas line ruptured in Williamsburg last weekend. The situation originated Friday, January 17 when the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was digging on the road in front of 122-124 Harrison Avenue. After smelling gas and receiving confirmation that the gas line ruptured during DEP construction, the families called 311 for assistance. To their dismay, they were told their issue would have to be dealt with by National Grid and that the City cannot help.

After hours of phone calls, the heat has now been restored for these families, but the unresponsiveness of 311 in these types of cases still needs to be addressed. Especially during the coldest months of the year, gas outages can be devastating for families throughout the five boroughs. Although National Grid is not a city agency, there must be a way for the 311 system to communicate gas line emergencies to the utility companies in an efficient manner, especially when a city agency was responsible for the break in the gas line.

New York City must be ready and willing to respond to these situations. I am hopeful that the City will correct this giant flaw in the 311 system. Given your office’s oversight of 311, I respectfully request that you explore this issue and seek a way to remedy the situation so that all New Yorkers have a direct line to essential services and utilities.

Especially because of the cold weather we are currently experiencing, this matter must be dealt with in an urgent manner so that this does not happen again to another New Yorker. I thank you for your consideration and look forward to working with you on this and many other issues over the next four years.

Sincerely,

Stephen T. Levin

Councilmember, 33rd District

(YWN Desk – NYC)