Q&A
Discussion on extreme heat complaints and current city response
1:25:37
·
88 sec
Council Member Restler inquires about the city's response to extreme heat complaints, revealing that HPD currently only handles inadequate heating complaints and lacks a legal infrastructure to address extreme heat issues.
- HPD confirms there is no temperature threshold for 'too hot' inside apartments
- Current city policy directs residents to cooling centers during extreme heat
- HPD expresses willingness to work on developing a legal framework to address extreme heat concerns
Lincoln Restler
1:25:37
I'm not sure if this one is for deputy commissioner Joffe or Santiago, but right now, tenants are concerned about extreme heat.
1:25:45
It's we're going through one of our crazy heat waves or maybe it's just 80 degrees on November 5th.
1:25:51
They call 3 11.
1:25:53
Do any of those calls go to HPD?
1:25:56
People are concerned about the conditions in their home being unsafe, being dangerous.
AnnMarie Santiago
1:26:00
Thank you, council member.
1:26:01
So right now, as you know, there is no, temperature at which it is too hot inside your apartment.
1:26:08
So we continue to although as you said yesterday was 80 degrees, today is 50 degrees.
1:26:14
We are accepting complaints regarding inadequate heat.
Lincoln Restler
1:26:18
Right.
1:26:18
So we only have inadequate heating complaints that get sent to HPD.
1:26:21
Right now, if I understand correctly, somebody calls through in 1, they're concerned about extreme heat.
1:26:25
In all likelihood, if there's a a cooling center that's open, they'll be directed to go to the cooling center, and that's kind of the city's policy at this point.
1:26:33
Right?
1:26:34
I think that's why we wanna work with you.
1:26:36
We take this
Pierina Sanchez
1:26:36
issue
Lucy Joffe
1:26:39
incredibly seriously.
1:26:40
We do not yet have the legal infrastructure
Lincoln Restler
1:26:42
Right.
Lucy Joffe
1:26:42
To take action about it.
1:26:43
That is what this process is about, and we're looking forward to working on it and doing it in a way that we think prioritizes all the the important things we talked about here today, city's well, that we talked about in testimony, city's climate goals, thinking about those who are most vulnerable, and really being able to implement this in a way based on our experience with various enforcement programs.
1:27:03
And that's what we need to do.
