Very Mixed Review!
Greeted with much anticipation and appreciation, THE STOVES finally arrived May 3rd in the midst of a heavy rain storm! When the clouds finally stopped crying, building one was outfitted with 140 new conventional stoves. They are shorter in depth than the previous stoves but are wider and sturdier.
While the overwhelming consensus is that the new conventional stoves are a big hit, getting them installed was a task. The company where the stoves were purchased "PC Richards" failed to deliver the contracted number of units, causing a delay and back log in the delivery schedule. Buildings 3 through 7 all received their stoves a day behind schedule. A number of residents complained about the slouchy, lazy and nonchalant attitudes of the men removing and installing the stoves. Professionalism and sense of urgency was not among their strong points.
The 504 stoves issued in the apartments for persons with disabilities, are not comparable to the older models with none of the essential features needed by persons with disabilities. The older models had timers, beepers, clocks and raised burners.
Features critical to persons with vision, hearing or mobility issues. Unfortunately the new models have none of these essential features. The only difference between them and the conventional stoves issued to everyone else is the width.
NYCHA definitely dropped the ball and failed to provide a product that is useful or accommodating to persons with disabilities. Most notably, vision impaired residents will need to develop a new way to use the stoves. Previously, they were able to set the timer and beep features to independently cook. The absence of these features will make independence nearly impossible for persons with certain types of disabilities. NYCHA will certainly need to revisit the oversight if persons with disabilities are not able to compensate for the new challenges. Disability means more than just "Self Cleaning".
"A NEED FOR SPRING CLEANING"
Spring is certainly ready to bloom, now is a great time to clean the clutter, empty the trash and scrape the walls, and that is in just the kitchen. While installing the stoves we saw some of the dirtiest houses I have ever seen in my life. Dirty walls, floors and junk strewn everywhere, and this was the kitchen. Needless to say they can never offer me anything to eat or drink!PAY ATTENTION, it is unhealthy and unsafe to live like that. Take pride in having a place to live, keep it clean! We saw stoves, kitchens and living rooms that looked as if they have never been cleaned, "ever". The saddest part, people actually felt no pain allowing us to come in and see such filth and disgust.
you know who you are, and now we do too!
Stand up and do the right thing, "CLEAN YOUR FUNKY HOUSE", not now but RIGHT NOW. Years of caked up grit and grime is fodder for a fire. Clutter, boxes and junk in the hallways and on beds is a tripping hazard. 100 people living in a one bedroom apartment is not cool, FAMILY or not!
I have lived in third and fourth world countries and the people kept their card board shantys cleaner than 50 of the apartments I saw during the 700 stove installations. There is no excuse for living in trash, filth and junk in a free and prosperous society. For those of you who still don't feel anything is wrong, call the health department! Now we know why some buildings have such severe rodent and bedbug problems!
clean yo damn house!
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