NYC Water Shut Offs Loom For $102M In Delinquent Bills
"Pay your bill. If not, we would shut off your water," said Mayor Eric Adams to holders of 2,400 delinquent accounts. Mayor Eric Adams has warned 2,400 "chronically" delinquent water accounts that owe the city a combined $102 million. Water shut off notices are being sent out to those accounts, with a warning to pay a penny a gallon. This comes after a water bill amnesty program last year saw roughly 100,000 New Yorkers receive up to 100 percent interest on delinquent accounts, resulting in $22 million in payments and fines. Nearly $105 million has been recovered from delinquent accounts so far, which officials say will help keep New York City's water rates low. The shut off notice will be sent to commercial properties and one-to-three family homes that have not responded to outreach over delinquent bills.
发表 : 一个月前 经过 Matt Troutman 在 Politics
Mayor Eric Adams leveled that message Wednesday to the holders of 2,400 "chronically" delinquent water accounts that owe the city a combined $102 million. Water shut off notices are going out to those accounts, Adams said — a point he illustrated by posting one on the front door of Hotel Hayden in Chelsea, which owes nearly $400,000 in unpaid bills.
"You can pay a penny a gallon," he told delinquent water bill holders. "Pay your bill. If not, we would shut off your water." Hotel Hayden claims to be the hippest boutique hotel in Chelsea. But skipping out on nearly $400,000 worth of water bills and expecting New Yorkers to pick up the tab is not hip, it’s unlawful.
Today, we're taking action to shut down their water supply. pic.twitter.com/yaYBerTpD7
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 20, 2024 A manager at the Hotel Hayden didn't return Patch's request for comment.
The crackdown follows a water bill amnesty program last year that forgave up to 100 percent interest on delinquent accounts. Roughly 100,000 New Yorkers took advantage and saw $22 million in payments and fines dissolve, said Rohit Aggarwala, commissioner for the city's Department of Environmental Protection.
Nearly $105 million has been recouped from delinquent accounts so far, which Aggarwala said will help keep New York City's water rates low. But some account holders haven't received the message, he said.
"They're trying to ghost us and hope that we forget about their bills," he said. Shut off notices will go to commercial properties — ranging from hotels to office buildings to retail spaces — and one-to-three family homes that haven't responded to outreach over delinquent bills, officials said. The notices will tell account holders to pay their outstanding balances or enter a payment agreement within 15 days.