I can't believe it's not a democracy!

No heat, no hot water....and the temperature is supposed to drop to 15 degrees tonight.

The oil probably ran out, again.  Our former bitch managing agent no longer works for the management company, allegedly.  Who knows?  All I know is that we apparently have no managing agent, the super didn't answer his phone, he won't call back, the "emergency" answering service is always busy (i.e., they probably cut off service), and I will have a shitty night's rest and will have to get up early to boil a bath.  That said, it's my eldest niece's birthday this weekend, so I'm outta here tomorrow.  Going to south Jersey where heat and hot water are availabe 24/7.  

Yeah, I'm glad I hired a lawyer.  I have a feeling I may have a number of fellow tenants knocking on my door asking for his name.  

Stay warm.  

No heat, no hot water.

Of course.  Super claimed the oil company tried to go down my street today but couldn't make it.  A neighbor told me that was bullshit, because she saw a truck used to deliver a sofa to the building across the street yesterday.  It's all bullshit.  That said, I've hired an attorney and the complaint should be filed any day now.  Yep, had enough.  

No, we don't have heat. Why do you ask?

Yes, it's the start of heating season.  Well, it started everywhere else except here.  With that in mind, here is a copy of the e-mail that I sent the bitch managing agent:

X: Yet another evening with no heat, and none expected.  Yes, I called [the thing that pretends to be our super].  He said the boiler works.  I don't doubt him.  After all, the boiler did come on for, oh, 15 minutes sometime after 7:00 a.m. this morning.  Not enough to actually heat the building.  I would say it was more like a "hint of heat."  UNACCEPTABLE.

In any event, [the thing that pretends to be the super] says that the problem is the timer, and the "boiler timer people" who are responsible for repairing the timer have been called.  He called them.  But then he said he told you and you would call.  Or something.  [He] added that these "boiler timer people" who will "fix the electronics" won't or can't come here tonight.  No, apparently they can only make calls sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. tomorrow.  This is New York City.  You can get anything here.  Even timely boiler repair service.  

Yes, I am keeping a record of every day we don't have heat--and I'm not the only one.   Signed, Me

P.S.  Did you pay the outstanding Con Ed bill or are we going to have no light and no heat? 

Ah, New York City living.  And yes, I've met the new neighbors, gave them the low down and am considering (possibly with them) hiring a lawyer (once again).  This time things may get resolved sooner than later.  You see, there is one good thing that has come out of the [induced] financial crisis.  My landlord--a man who truly defines the term douchebag--apparently was convinced that he was going to be up there with the Durst, Silversteins and other real estate moguls, so he put second mortgages on some of his buildings, including the one I live in (which is a cash cow).  Apparently the banks have helped themselves to three of his buildings, and this one might be next.  Since about half of us are rent controlled or rent stabilized, the bank can't take the building and just kick us all out.  Oh, and they will have to provide heat, hot water, clean the building, etc.  So this should give you and idea of how much I hate my landlord: in a fight between him and the banks, I want the banks to win.  

Heating, hot water update:

Nothing will be done until Monday morning, at the earliest.  Yep, no attempt to provide us heat or hot water the entire fucking weekend.  And why should the landlord and managing agent care?  They got hot showers this morning.  

Yes, I will be papering the hallways with signs.  

Update:  Shortly after I wrote this, the heat came on.  The hot water followed about a half hour later.  I was told by the chimney repair guy that the owner called the super and told him to turn the boilers on.  Interesting.  Particularly since the managing agent told me that they were told on Friday that if the boilers were turned on before the repair was made that the super (or someone) could be subject to a $20,000 fine and/or jail time.  I have no doubt that the super was told that it was ok to do it, because he, unlike the owner, is an honorable guy (really).  And while the possibility of ratting out my landlord to the Department of Buildings was awfully appealing, my fear that our new super--the best one we've ever had--would be the one who suffered kept me from placing the call.  No one would likely be there to get it anyhow.  So I get to enjoy another wonderful evening in the glamorous Village, where heat and hot water are almost always available, whether you need it or not. 

Going to be a crappy weekend.

First, rain is expected.  Second, the high on Saturday will be 40.  Could be worse, but with rain it will be damp and cold.  Which will suck since the Department of Buildings came and shut down our boilers because my motherfucking scumbag landlord "replaced" the chimney by putting in a fan to vent the fumes from the boilers out the back--it's against the building code.   The fumes are making the tenant right above the boiler room sick.  Sadly, he's already dealing with diabetes, and he isn't looking so well.  No one is angry at him (that I know of), but the douche bag landlord had to know that his fix was illegal.  So now he has to get a crew in here to replace the chimney, which is falling apart (sections of it are missing).  This is not a four-hour job.  I think I am looking at a heat and hot water free weekend, and I am not happy.  

Hope you all have a restful and warm weekend. 

I'm home, wasting time,

being late for work. Truth is, I might not get to work today. Why? No fucking water. None. Not a goddamned drop. Seems that there was a flooding issue in the basement apartment and my super (a nice kid, but a kid) decided at 2:00 a.m. to shut the water to the whole fucking building. Roto-Rooter (or however they spell it) just got here. Why not early this morning? My guess is that my super knew that my bastard landlord wouldn't authorize an early morning visit because it costs more. I know this for a fact, because one of the many managing agents who quit/were fired told me that they were not allowed to call for emergencies after 6 or 7 p.m., to save money for my bastard drug-addicted landlord (hey, cocaine doesn't grow on trees...oh, wait a second).

Anyhow, this is the second time in about two years that the water was turned off. First time happened around 7 p.m. on a very hot August night. You know, one of those hot sticky nights where the only thing you want to do when you get home is to peel off your wet clothing and stand under a steady stream of cool water until you feel human again? Well, no one was called until the a.m. (money, money, money), so we had no water for about 19 hours. Let me tell you, I've gone without heat for days and hate it, but nothing beats the pain of not having water. Think about it. Can't brush your teeth (although I do have emergency water in the fridge for that), can't shower (bottled water is no help), can't flush a toilet (not fun). Nothing. So, even though I took tomorrow off for a long weekend, I may have to take my last paid day off today instead, sitting in my pajamas, without water, because I will not go to the office without a shower. I'm stubborn that way. Please Mr. Housing Bubble, pop soon so that I can buy an overpriced studio with running water. Amen.

Large closet space a New York City

status symbol. Even though I live in a small village "one bedroom" apartment, I have pretty good closet space. But I'd gladly give up one of my closets for 50 more square feet of living space.

I love my neighborhood

I still hate my bastard landlord, but I live in a fabulous neighborhood....the west village...an oasis in the big city. The nieghborhood is so pretty that many film crews come here for television and movie shoots. So when I was walking home from lunch a few minutes ago and saw flashing lights at the end of my block, I walked to the end to see if it was a street festival or a movie shoot. Well, the block was lined with carnival games and food booths and the tell tale signs of a film crew. And no cost was spared, as there was tons of equipment and cables everywhere. So, was it a Hollywood film? An HBO show? No. I asked a production worker what the name of the movie was. He sort of smiled and looked a little embarassed and said, "um, actually, it's a TUMS commercial."

Hate his guts

I could start from the beginning, but I would need hours, if not days, to list his trangressions. In short, he is a complete bastard who should not own buildings in which people live. He has physically threatened tenants and his agents, refuses to keep the building clean, hires undocumented and unskilled help, etc. We do not have heat despite the fact that heating season started October 1. There is a mountain of trash in the basement. The building is filthy and the roof....well, it's still there. Perhaps I should start a poll as to when part or all of it caves in. I'm thinking right after the next heavy snowstorm.
So, my neighbors/friends in the apartment next to mine and I are keeping the pressure on. Sure we are settling our claims in return for giving him our withheld rent (minus a very very small amount for our troubles) and he will give us promises in return. Promises that I am certain he will not keep.
So expect to hear more in the future.
As to why I remain here? I love my neighborhood. I have fantabulous neighbors. I walk to work. I live in one of the best places in the world. I just hate my bastard landlord.