Praneet Thakar
In March, Mayor Eric Adams initiated a rigorous campaign against New York City landlords delinquent on their water bill payments. Amid this crackdown, a public school safety agent and her family were unexpectedly presented with a $24,000 water bill.
The city threatened to cut off their water unless they paid at least $6,000 immediately, putting significant strain on the family, which included a diabetic car-service driver and two children.
The mayor’s campaign, highlighted by an announcement in front of a Manhattan hotel, initially seemed to target large landlords. This move was intended to generate revenue to support the city’s extensive water system.
However, a recent lawsuit suggests that the crackdown is also affecting vulnerable homeowners, including those who are elderly, caring for young children, or dealing with serious medical issues. This action potentially violates state and city regulations designed to protect such individuals.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is under pressure to maintain New York City’s vast water and sewer systems while also addressing the increasing threat of flash flooding exacerbated by climate change.
The DEP, which relies on water payments for its operations, is grappling with a funding shortfall due to the mayor redirecting over $1.4 billion from the department to other city needs. Despite this financial strain, the DEP’s primary responsibility is to supply over a billion gallons of water daily to the city and its surrounding areas.
Albert Kramer, acting deputy commissioner of customer services at DEP, acknowledged the aggressive nature of the current enforcement during a May water board meeting.
He noted that state law offers protections for vulnerable groups, and the city’s standard water shut-off notice mentions exemptions for those with significant medical conditions, the elderly, disabled individuals, and households with young children. The city also launched an amnesty program and a state water assistance program to aid debt-laden customers.
Despite these measures, the lawsuit includes examples of the city threatening to shut off water to vulnerable residents. Legal Services NYC argues that these threats are more about pressuring payments than actual shut-offs.
Liz Garcia, a mayoral spokesperson, emphasized that water shut-offs are a last resort and that the city prefers to work with residents to establish payment plans. She stressed that communication is key to identifying and assisting vulnerable customers.
Specific cases illustrate the issue. Liliana Mendoza-Lebron and her husband Harvey Mendoza, who believed their water bill was included in their mortgage, were shocked by a $24,000 bill in March.
Despite providing proof of Mendoza’s diabetes, the city demanded a payment they could not afford. Similarly, Elvira Beltrez-Tavarez and Francisco Tavarez, who face significant financial and health challenges, were hit with a $58,000 bill. Despite multiple negotiations, they were unable to meet the city’s demands. Ultimately, their mortgage servicer paid the debt, likely to avoid complications with property foreclosure, but the couple now faces the prospect of an unaffordable mortgage.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings