Broken Elevator holds Handicapped Tenants Hostage!
Out Of Service For Six Months Is Six Months too Many!
It may not sound like much of a problem for you or me, but tenants of 780 Garden Street in the Bronx, say living without a working elevator is unbearable!
That's because many of them are disabled and have been doing without a working elevator for six months! For them, climbing up and down six flights of stairs is a daily experience in fatigue and frustration.
Apollo Figueras is a retired navyman and served as a radio technician on the USS Forestal.
He served in the first Gulf War and was honorably discharged, after he fell down the ship's ladderwells.
Unfortunately his back and knee have not been the same since then and you can image what his life has been like having to climb six flights of stairs everyday for the last six months.
He says, I'm disabled, I'm not supposed to be killing myself to get upstairs to my house, to my apartment!"
Apollo complains that people from the outside are getting into the building and urinating in the elevator, damaging the building. He claims because of that, the building's management is slow in making repairs.
Yvette Cummins is a neighbor of Apollo's and her 12-year old son Chris is also disabled.
Without the elevator, she has been forced to depend on the kindness of her neighbors, who have helped lug Chris' 300-pound motorized wheelchair up and down four flights of stairs for the last six months.
Frustrated, several neighbors banded together and called Help Me Howard. He came to the building today to assess the situation and before he knew it, a representative of the building's management company approached him on the premises.
This person identified herself as Carmen Rolan, the Tenant Manager. Hiding around the corner from the camera, she told Howard that her company was waiting for contracts with the city to upgrade the elevators.
As they spoke, another building representative by the name of Ray arrived. Ray claimed that the elevator was beyond repair and since February, they had been patching it up on various occasions. Every two weeks or so it would break again and finally now they were in "in the process of getting new elevators". All Ray could say to the tenants was to be patient.
The owner of the Bronx apartment building is a real estate company called Milbank Real Estate, located in Los Angeles, California. Howard tried contacting their office to speak to someone regarding the Bronx building's maintenance problems, but when he asked for their media representative, they did not return his call.
Howard promises to follow the progress of this building to make sure the owners do make the necessary repairs and we'll let you know what happens.
Comments: 18
Hey i think that is ridiculous that someone one won't fix that and the people in the building in the building are disabled and that's even worse. i have a disabled person in my house hold and its not easy at all for them and straining themselves so walk down a flight of stairs, i mean and i wish i lived closer to this building i would bring them down the stairs every morning, and help get that elevator fixed I'd even go as far as getting a elevator for dummies book (lol).But Howard to the tenants and Howard good luck and i really someone realize that this is a serious issue and can even turn to a law suit if any of them fall from those steps right?.
Hey Howard:
How are you doing?
Look, I was watching last nigth when you showed this "manager". from that building, you know what? She is the manager to the building where my girlfriend lives at and guess what, there has not being any hot water in the building for about 3 months. In fact i burn my foot carrying pots of hot water so that she and her baby could take a bath. for 3 months. 3 months.pots of water. pots of water. pots of water. Do you have a hall of shamefor this type of people. Never a landlord for anything,never a number, never a name. help them Howard....Please.
we did it Baby B.$.g.
GOOD EVENING MR HOWARD I ALSO LIVE IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT MILBANK OWNS AT 2427 WEBSTER AVE WE ARE ALSO GOING THREW THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MILBANK NO ELEVATOR FOR 9 MONTHS NO HOT WATER REPAIRS NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS I ASLO FELL GOING OUT THE BUILDING AND HURT MYSELF THESE LANDLORLD NEEDS TO DO ALOT OF REPAIRS HELP US HOWARD WE DO NOT WANT TO FREEZEEE THIS WINTER OR ANY OTHER WINTER THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESS DAY
Hey Howard
I also was once a tenant of Mill Bank and I had to move because of the Horrible condition I was once living in they refuse to do any repairs to there buildings. Me and my children went through many cold nights with out heat or hot water. Back in March of "08" I had a fire in my apartment due to faulty electrical wiring and even after that being done they still refuse to make repair on any of the electrical wiring through out the building. there were two more fires in the building after that. my heart goes out the tenant who still have to live in those horrific condition. MILL BANK MANAGEMENT/ REALITY AREN'T LAND LORDS THERE SLUM LORDS..
I hate elevators! I fell 8 flights down in an elevator in Switzerland. I was on vacation. I say, take the stairs if you possibly can.
Not to change the subject here, but I hope they fix the problem for the tenants of this buiding.
It is an annoying reality that many people must use these things.
I was frightened of elevators for years, but made myself go in one. Every once in a while I do get scared, especially, if it is a slow elevator. I hate them, and that is not going to change.
The elevators in Europe are like coffins. I figure, I will be in a coffin for eternity, not while I'm alive.
Scared to death, I guess,
Lee
Hi Howard
My parents are resident of 74 west 92nd street new york, ny 10025. they have been goignt through the same issues with housing. they have been residents there for over 32 years. the elevators are terrible either they jump on the way up, they speed up and down or there is just one working. the doors sma shut or need to be pulled closed. Yes this is a housing project but has not felt like one in years until now. no one cares to do the repairs in the building. Today, this very morning i walked in to find two broken elevators and people walking down the stairs to get to work and school. This is a 22 story high building with handicapped people, many elderly and the working class. i can't believe that if we call to say we need repairs it takes months and months for them to come. but if you pay your rent late they are quick to try to say either pay up or get out. Why isn't housing doing their job and giving us better elevators that actually will work. maybe living with one that is fixed to the point where it will work all the time while they install a new elevator would be better than dealing with them breakign down everyday or having one out for months at a time. Any ideas who we can go to for help? Emailing the commussioner of housing or 311 does not work. no one cares.
Thanks for listening.
Helpless in Housing.
ya lame if ya dont fix that
ya lame if ya dont fix that
To all potential tenants:
If you are looking to rent and actually get tto meet this lady as your landlord/manager, do yourself a favor and run. Run away from her like you seen the devil himself. RUN. I KNOW HER PERSONALLY. Just keep looking and good luck.
To all potential tenants:
If you are looking to rent and actually get tto meet this lady as your landlord/manager, do yourself a favor and run. Run away from her like you seen the devil himself. RUN. I KNOW HER PERSONALLY. Just keep looking and good luck.
Hello Howard
I saw your show the other day about our building and I see apolo all the time. He don't walk with no cane, and he is always smoking weed in front of the building when we walk with groceries or coming in with laundry specially in the weekends. I think he just likes to be on tv. Help get us get our elevator fixed. but don't believe apollo he is not handicapped. But mrs. cummins is a nice lady. she don't bother nobody.
Who can we go to when NYCHA does not respond to elevator repairs? when they come they are there no more than 15 minutes get the elevator to run again but doesn't actually fix it if they are both in non-working order again within a few hours. we have tried to contact the commissioner of NYCHA no one does anything. the elevators jump and are in a scary state. please help us.
Resident of 74 west 92nd street, new york, ny 10025.
Hello Howard,
I was reading the comments people left and i see that their are many people that can say many evil thing but can show thier faces.The person who wrote you the comment about apollo hanging in front of the builbing is his next door neihgbord the owen who does chill in front of the building during late hours off the nigth even on school nigths with her children and friends.I am a teanant also and I could tell you that they are having problems with them because they keep their garbage in the hallway and dagerous powder substance at her door and landlord was told about the rottens that stay at her garbage and nothing has been done about it not even for the first floor lobby hallway that is also full of garbage.I could tell u that Apollo and Iris do not hang out no where in this neigborhood and yes he does walk with a cane but when the elevator was working it was not that much work for his boby to do think about it before u talk I am A vet going through it too.
Hay what’s up Howard.
I also live in the same building as Apollo the negativity that people write about him is because they envy him why because he doesn’t talk to anybody in the building unless he is trying to help someone or somebody. He does not hang out around here at all he is always leaving with his family to go on family trip just to get away from the crap that do live in this building.
I think he should just keep on doing what he does here and the bad vibe will stay away from him.I feel he is a good man and he does take care of his family.And I am also a vet.He is always trying to help us the most.When I see him I will thank him..........
Hay what’s up Howard.
I also live in the same building as Apollo the negativity that people write about him is because they envy him why because he doesn’t talk to anybody in the building unless he is trying to help someone or somebody. He does not hang out around here at all he is always leaving with his family to go on family trip just to get away from the crap that do live in this building.
I think he should just keep on doing what he does here and the bad vibe will stay away from him.I feel he is a good man and he does take care of his family.And I am also a vet.He is always trying to help us the most.When I see him I will thank him..........
Hay what’s up Howard.
I also live in the same building as Apollo the negativity that people write about him is because they envy him why because he doesn’t talk to anybody in the building unless he is trying to help someone or somebody. He does not hang out around here at all he is always leaving with his family to go on family trip just to get away from the crap that do live in this building.
I think he should just keep on doing what he does here and the bad vibe will stay away from him.I feel he is a good man and he does take care of his family.And I am also a vet.He is always trying to help us the most.When I see him I will thank him..........
My mother in law is a resident at 780 Garden Street and lives on the fifth floor. She recently had to have a knee replacement because of the elevator situation. She is still in the nursing rehab and cannot come home because she cannot make it up and down the stairs. That is a horrible feeling. We are still trying to figure out the best way to get her home and in her own bed.