Asbestos Residue Coats Windows at Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses
On October 29, residents of two buildings at Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses were dealing with white residue on exterior walls and windows after steam escaped from equipment connected to an underground line. The New York City Housing Authority said the residue tested positive for asbestos. Residents said steam had been rising for weeks and the dust had obscured some windows.
NYCHA offered temporary relocation to residents of 23 apartments along the affected walls. Four had relocated, the authority said. Digna Torres, 75, stayed in her apartment because she did not want to move her three parakeets. She said crews had yet to wash the glass and she was worried about the health risks. Estalin De Leon, whose apartment faces away from the affected walls, said she sent her daughter to stay with a relative.
The steam problem also disrupted heat in nine buildings. By Wednesday, NYCHA said it had restored heat to 234 apartments in four buildings and was working to install mobile boilers in the other five. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said addressing residents’ health and safety was a priority, alongside increased investment and attention to NYCHA.
Marcy Houses Residents Need Safe Homes and a Serious NYCHA Response
On October 29, residents at Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses were confronting asbestos-positive residue left on two buildings after a steam leak. Some residents said steam had been billowing for weeks and white dust had covered their windows. The episode underscores the stakes of safe, habitable conditions for people living in public housing.
NYCHA offered temporary relocation to residents of 23 apartments along the affected walls; four had moved, the authority said. Digna Torres, 75, remained because she did not want to transport her three parakeets. She said she was anxious and that the glass remained unwashed. Estalin De Leon, whose apartment was not considered directly affected, sent her daughter to stay with a relative.
The same problem disrupted heat in nine buildings. NYCHA said heat had been restored to 234 apartments across four buildings by Wednesday, with mobile boilers being installed for the other five. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration prioritized residents’ health and safety and wanted to bring more investment and attention to NYCHA. The immediate test is whether affected residents receive the protection and support they need while repairs continue.
NYCHA’s Steam Failure Left Brooklyn Residents Facing Asbestos and Cold
On October 29, residents of Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses were left dealing with asbestos-positive residue after a steam leak coated the exterior walls and windows of two buildings. Residents said the steam had been rising for weeks, while the housing authority’s response now includes cleanup and temporary relocation offers. This is a basic safety and maintenance failure affecting people in their homes.
NYCHA offered relocation to residents of 23 apartments along the affected walls, but four had moved, according to the authority. Digna Torres, 75, stayed because moving her three parakeets was a concern; she said she was anxious and that the glass remained unwashed. Another resident sent her daughter to stay with family despite living in an apartment not considered directly affected.
The leak also affected heat in nine buildings. NYCHA said it restored heat to 234 apartments in four buildings by Wednesday and was working on mobile boilers for the remaining five. Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke of prioritizing safety and increasing investment in NYCHA. Residents still need the immediate problems addressed: safe conditions, functioning heat and a clear response to the residue.
Reported by Gothamist, CBS New York.
