Senator Jack / NYers / What's up with Queens?

[PrettySquareGal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/nyregion/22astoria.html?hp&ex=1153540800&en=bb05fe142b1ae65c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

It's hard to believe they haven't fixed this yet! How dreadful that must be in this heat! Anyone there that can provide first hand info? Hope you're keeping cool!

 

[Senator Jack]

Well, PSG, I've had power since this all began, but a half hour ago I and my neighbors just lost half of it, meaning that the front half of my apartment has power while the kitchen and bedroom doesn't. Same goes for the neighbors. How we've got power to half of the house is a mystery. Resetting the breaker doesn't do anything.

I'm right here in the thick of this mess. Our streets are cordoned off by Con Ed trucks, squad cars, fire engines, and ambulances. Some of the traffic lights work, most are out, and some are just flashing from red to green to orange. Ditmars Blvd is the heart of the shopping district here (one block from my apartment) and there hasn't been any power there since Tuesday. People are starting to freak out. Traffic is backed up all over town, and it could take as much as twenty minutes to travel two blocks. The cops say they have no idea what's going on, and from the few I talked to, I gather they're not beng told much. Con Ed seems to keeping things secret, and the whole thing is a bit like 'The Monsters Have Taken Over Maple Street'. Why does my neighbor have power when i don't? I haven't even been following the story on the news - I just go down to the corner every day to see if my bank is open. All I find are people with their hands thrown up in digust - along with signs of 'Boo - Con Ed'.

If you believe this country is prepared for any sort of terrorist attack, I hate to disappoint; I'm seeing first hand how unprepared we are.

Over and out,

Senator Jack

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Oh no! I hope you don't loose all of your power! Thanks for your report and keep us posted if you can.

 

[Rosie]

I'm in Brooklyn but, it's really a mess. My godfather, who lives in Queens, has had is power on and off all week. It's crazy. Apparently, Con Ed is being brought up on charges because they lied about the severity of the situation. They even cancelled some train services during the week because of the power problem. Everyone I think was under the impression that after the black of '03 everything would be taken care of. Like Senator Jack says, it's very scary. If another terrorist attack occurs it's certain we are in no way prepared for it. Another funny thing is the authorities have stated that if a Katrina type storm happens here, we will use the transit system to evacuate the city. The CITY! If they can't get Queens back on line and working in a week, how are they going to do something of that magnitude?

 

[Feraud]

If you believe this country is prepared for any sort of terrorist attack, I hate to disappoint; I'm seeing first hand how unprepared we are.

Over and out,

Senator Jack

You are not kidding. I live in Queen, N.Y. and fortunately have not lost power. My sympathies go out to those who have.
It is utterly ridiculous to notice the areas that lost power are closest to Con Edison!! I am not as upset with Con Ed for being totally unprepared for Summer(will it really get hot?) as I am with their taking the time to get it fixed! How many days has it been? Five or six?? It may not sound like a lot but when you are without refrigeration or electricity you feel every minute.
Driving in Astoria has been a nightmare. Traffic lights out every other block or two. The locals are driving either totally unaware of a problem or others are cautious to the point to cause 2-3 blocks of traffic behind them!