"Families lost heat during one of the longest and coldest spells in years. At Warren Street Houses, elderly tenants, people with disabilities, and parents with young children were trapped without working elevators, lights, or heat."
"Rolling blackouts, exploding manholes, and a crumbling energy grid have nothing to do with socialism. They have everything to do with unchecked capitalism that treats electricity as a commodity instead of a public good."
"Con Edison is a private, for-profit monopoly. New Yorkers cannot shop around for another electric provider. We are captive customers required to purchase an essential service from a corporation whose legal obligation is not to the public, but to its shareholders."
"Last year, Con Ed reported its CEO's compensation at nearly $15 million, while its parent company posted $1.82 billion in net income."
In February, a mix of snow and road salt caused significant blackouts affecting over 5,000 residents in various neighborhoods. Families lost heat during severe cold, particularly impacting vulnerable populations. Subsequent smaller blackouts highlighted the fragility of the electric system. Many residents faced rejected reimbursement claims from Con Edison for losses incurred. Despite efforts to coordinate emergency services and seek accountability, a narrative blaming socialism emerged, which is inaccurate. The issues stem from a profit-driven monopoly, with Con Edison prioritizing shareholder interests over public service, evidenced by high executive compensation and rate hikes.
Read at New York Daily News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]