Put the Power Lines Underground

   Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, local candidate for city council Andrew Cohen, and dozens of residents of the Spuyten Duyvil Triangle (nine apartment buildings that border Independence Avenue, Palisade Avenue, and Kappock Street) want the power lines there to be placed underground. In what was said to be many interruptions of service where lights may go off and then right back all appliances as well as the buildings machinery such as the elevator, boiler, and washing machines have to be reset. After Hurricane Sandy the area experienced no power for ten days due to multiple downed power lines that had trees fall on them. Con Edison has said that it is to costly to put power lines underground, and estimated the cost at $5,000.00 per foot.

    Dinowitz said that when there is a storm or even a gust of wind it can trip the cut off switches to avert a power surge that could cause a much larger blackout in the area. One elderly woman (who walks with the aid of a walker) said she was trapped in her fourth floor apartment, and could not get down the stairs for over a week. She added that it was the kindness of her neighbors who brought her food consisting of bread, non dairy cheese and milk to go along with the few cans of soup that she had on hand as the food from her refrigerator had quickly spoiled without electricity. 

   Council candidate Andrew Cohen who is the Chair of  Community Board #8's Aging Committee said that it is seniors like this woman who have to throw away spoiled food or medicine, are cold since there is no heat, and are trapped in their apartments when the power goes out for an extended period of time. Dinowitz ended the protest by calling on Con Edison to put their customers first, and the power lines underground.  

Left - Assemblyman Dinowitz addresses the crowd.

Right - Ms. Blance Morganstern tells of her ordeal during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy without electricity for ten days.

Left - Old pole is still attached to the new pole in front of 2550 Independence Avenue. 

Right - Pole on the corner of Independence Avenue and Kappock Street is leaning to one side.

Left - A new pole is standing where the old one was taken down by a tree that recently fell. The sign lying on the ground has not been replaced yet.

Right - One of many trees that have been pruned to almost death.

 

Left and Right - Trees on Independence Avenue by Riverdale Park threaten power lines, and will have to be pruned by next spring.