Two weeks after calling the NYC Rapid Repairs team for help and after Fox 5 News called the mayor's office Yaffa Epstein finally got a contractor to her Rockaway Beach Boulevard home on Thursday.
The FEMA paid contractor sent by the city began putting a boiler in her basement. She's had no heat or electricity since Sandy hit.
When we arrived, we also saw a half dozen men working upstairs in Yaffa's house removing moldy floors and walls. But the yellow-shirted workers were not from the city. They're from a church charity Yaffa met yesterday at a relief center, North Carolina Baptist Men.
Yaffa's next-door neighbor also had a Rapid Repairs team working at her home even though she called just two days ago.
The Army Corps of Engineers has spent three weeks removing debris from the storm surge.
But the rest of the Rockaway Peninsula has not fared as well. Now exactly one month after Sandy hit, across the street from Yaffa's home not one store has reopened. At many stores on Rockaway Beach Boulevard there is electricity but the wiring is so corroded from the polluted water of the storm surge that turning on the power would start fires.
Many stores remain shuttered. Relief workers say looters are sneaking into stores in front of them. Dozens of homes remain boarded up as well, while on the beach sit the ruins of the boardwalk.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:30 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:30:40 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:03 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:03:08 GMT
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tried to limit the size of soda consumption, ban smoking in parks, encourage bike riding and now there"s another possible plan on the table: mandate recycling of food waste.
West Side resident Matt Murphy has stored a pail of leftovers on his floor for the last two months. His building is part of the city's food-recycling pilot program. Mayor Bloomberg wants to expand the program citywide.
Monday, June 17 2013 8:36 AM EDT2013-06-17 12:36:36 GMT
Five passengers from a New York bound EgyptAir flight diverted to a Scottish airport over an apparent threat to destroy the aircraft are now seeking asylum in Britain, authorities said.
Five passengers from a New York bound EgyptAir flight diverted to a Scottish airport over an apparent threat to destroy the aircraft are now seeking asylum in Britain, authorities said.
Monday, June 17 2013 8:21 AM EDT2013-06-17 12:21:23 GMT
Related Companies, a major landlord across the country, is banning smoking in all of its apartments. The new rule is meant to create healthier living conditions, according to company officials.
Related Companies, a major landlord across the country, is banning smoking in all of its apartments. The new rule is meant to create healthier living conditions, according to company officials.
Monday, June 17 2013 7:02 AM EDT2013-06-17 11:02:34 GMT
Two New York City Council committees are holding a hearing on glitches to the city's emergency 911 system that at times have forced phone operators to resort to pen and paper.
Two New York City Council committees are holding a hearing on glitches to the city's emergency 911 system that at times have forced phone operators to resort to pen and paper.
Friday, June 14 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-06-14 21:53:56 GMT
This is the best Father's Day gift that a dad could get: the gift of life. A young father from Queens needed a kidney, and his 55-year-old father donated his.
This is the best Father's Day gift that a dad could get: the gift of life. A young father from Queens needed a kidney, and his 55-year-old father donated his.
Thursday, June 13 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-06-13 22:42:53 GMT
A line of thunderstorms caused some damage and street flooding in New Jersey on Thursday, but the threat of longer, widespread heavy rain and flooding in the tristate area has diminished.
A line of thunderstorms caused some damage and street flooding in New Jersey on Thursday, but the threat of longer, widespread heavy rain and flooding in the tristate area has diminished.
Thursday, June 13 2013 6:15 PM EDT2013-06-13 22:15:30 GMT
Law enforcement officials nationwide are demanding the creation of a "kill switch" that would render smartphones inoperable after they are stolen, New York's top prosecutor said.
Law enforcement officials nationwide are demanding the creation of a "kill switch" that would render smartphones inoperable after they are stolen, New York's top prosecutor said.
Thursday, June 13 2013 6:02 PM EDT2013-06-13 22:02:05 GMT
Bargain hunters from around the world flock to Manhattan's Chinatown for bags, jewelry and other accessories bursting onto sidewalks from storefronts along Canal Street.
Bargain hunters from around the world flock to Manhattan's Chinatown for bags, jewelry and other accessories bursting onto sidewalks from storefronts along Canal Street.
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