Dear Roosevelt Landings Neighbors,
Curley told us that L&M received a waiver to bill us for back bills. This is totally inaccurate. L&M requested a waiver because PSC's policy would prevent them from triple billing us as they have proposed. PSC's regulations block them from doing so; hence their need for a waiver.
Our legal advisors have told us there will be a hearing on their request for a waiver and there will be a comment period prior to a decision being made. As soon as we get the proper information on the comment period, we will inform you and encourage everyone to send their comments. We also encourage everyone to attend if we will be allowed to speak. The hearing will take place in Albany. If you intend to attend and have a car, please let me know whether you can accommodate passengers, and how many. I personally have a car and can accommodate 4 passengers. February 26th is the date for the hearing.
If you wish to attend, please let me know and whether you need a ride.
You probably noticed that Curley failed to respond to my question on what L&M pays for electricity. That's because, our information indicates they pay approximately 12 cents per KwH while charging residents approximately 38 cents per KwH. He failed to disclose what L&M pays while muttering under his breath that I was wrong and that they are barely making a profit. Their entire manner of billing without backing out the actual electricity cost your rent currently covers is a policy known as "double billing."
In his typical pass-the-buck fashion, Curley pretended that Metergy is your electric company, "Just like ConEdison.". This is a totally bogus concept. Metergy is the BILLING AGENT for L&M, not the ELECTRIC COMPANY.. L&M purchases electricity at a bulk rate from Con Edison and plans to resell it to us at 3 times their cost. This policy is in direct conflict with the regulations of the PSC that submetering should not be a profit scheme for the landlord. We have brought an Article 78 challenge against the PSC because they have enabled L&M to create a harmful policy that is contrary to their own regulations. Their triple billing scheme is evidence of the imminent harm they are attempting to establish.
There has been no hearing to date on the merits of our case. L&M's rhetoric is intimidating. They will try any way to secure proof that tenants are in favor of their policies by the number of tenants who signed their submetering rider. In fact, they intimidated and threatened evictions to compel tenants to comply. Coercion is not consent.
Please email L&M immediately of any problems you have with your heaters or electric wiring. Not only do you need to do so to establish that their equipment is problematic, but you need it fixed and doing so will protect your family, your neighbors, and your friends from the dangerous outcomes of faulty electric conditions in your unit. Please cc me on any complaints you make to L&M on any electrical problems or equipment.
Please encourage your neighbors to sign up for our email list and WhatsApp chat. We need every tenant to be well informed. They can easily do so at https://rlra.notion.site. Unfortunately, management has removed our door drops and postings at the elevator vestibules and lobbies. Signing onto our email list, and posting a copy of the emails you receive from us on your apartment's front door will help to circulate information.
In solidarity,
Joyce
Joyce Short
President
Roosevelt Landings Residents Association