Legionnaire's in the neighborhood

After the Legionnaire's disease (pneumonia) bacteria were found on the Upper East Side, a west side building tested its own system and found it.  That's good: It will be disinfected within 24 hours.  

Our building does not have central air conditioning and therefore we have NO COOLING TOWER and therefore should not worry about Legionnaire's immediately around our building. 

But here's general information from East Side state senator Liz Krueger about Legionnaire's: 

The Health Department wants you to know the following: A positive test result from the PCR screening test means that Legionella bacteria is either currently present (live bacteria that is harmful) or was previously present (dead bacteria that is not harmful) in the cooling tower. Only live Legionella bacteria can cause illness. A positive PCR screening test result does not mean that the tower is the source of the community cluster. There is no reason to panic if you live or work in or near a building that tests positive. All cooling towers that test positive from the PCR screening test must be cleaned and disinfected within 24 hours. A bacterial culture test must be performed in order to verify whether there is live Legionella bacteria in the cooling tower. It takes two weeks to get the results from this test. If you are experiencing symptoms that are suggestive of Legionnaires' disease, it is important to seek medical attention early, especially if you are at risk for Legionnaires' disease. Make sure to tell your health care provider that you are concerned about having Legionnaires'.

If you were unable to attend the Virtual Town Hall that the NYC Health Department held on Monday, July 6th, please click here to watch a recording. Community cluster status update: As of July 9th, the NYC Health Department reported that 46 individuals are known to have Legionnaires' disease, 22 of whom were hospitalized. There have been no deaths. Since the community cluster was announced, many constituents have called my office to express concerns and ask questions. Below are responses to the most frequently asked questions: Is it safe to drink the water, run my air conditioner, and take a shower? Yes, it is safe to use air conditioners, cooling centers, and other facilities in the affected areas. It is also safe to shower and drink tap water. Cooling tower mist is released outdoors and does not affect indoor air conditioning systems, window air conditioners, or building plumbing. Are public water fountains in parks and playgrounds safe? Drinking water is not a concern. Playground and park fountains are safe - they are coming from the municipal water source, which has a residual chlorine disinfectant. Can someone pass it from one person to another? You cannot get Legionnaires' disease from a person sick with Legionnaires' disease - the disease is not contagious. You can only develop Legionnaires' disease by breathing in water vapor in the air containing the Legionella bacteria from sources such as cooling towers. Cooling towers emit water vapors into the air that travel into the community. The mist cannot be felt or seen. What Is Legionnaires' Disease? Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the bacteria Legionella, which grows in warm water. Individuals at higher risk for Legionnaires' include those 50 years old and older, cigarette smokers, and people with chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems. What are the symptoms of Legionnaires' Disease? The symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and a cough. People with Legionnaires' may also have headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion, or diarrhea. Symptoms typically take 2-14 days, but may take up to two weeks to appear following exposure and may worsen and become severe or even fatal. Should I wear a mask? The NYC Health Department does not recommend wearing a mask, but you can certainly wear a mask if it feels more comfortable when walking around in the affected areas. If you choose to wear a mask, please keep in mind that surgical masks are not as effective. KN94 or N95 masks are higher quality and more protective. The Health Department is stressing the importance of contacting one's doctor about testing if you experience symptoms. It is important to monitor any symptoms and seek care immediately if you have symptoms that are suggestive of Legionnaires' disease. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, particularly when treated early on. It is critical to get evaluated, and if positive, to get antibiotics as soon as possible. Where can I get tested if I have symptoms that are suggestive of Legionnaires' disease? You can see your doctor or go to an emergency department for testing if you are experiencing symptoms. NYC H+H emergency departments are equipped to assess and provide testing for individuals with or without insurance. Other hospital emergency departments are equipped to assess and provide testing for individuals who are insured. Please note that tests are not administered to individuals who are not exhibiting symptoms. If you do not have a primary care physician, you can call 311 to find a provider.  Is there a screening test I can take to check if I have Legionnaires'? If you do not have symptoms, it is not medically appropriate to get tested for Legionnaires'. Speaking from personal experience, I called my doctor due to having cold symptoms and I was told that it was good I had reached out, but based on my symptoms, testing for Legionnaires' was not appropriate.  For additional information and updates, please visit the NYC Health Department's Legionnaires' disease web page.

Tenants Win a Rent Freeze for 1- AND 2-year leases!!

Come to the RENT GUIDELINES BD Hearing this Tuesday at Symphony Space

RENT GUIDELINES BOARD HEARING

THIS TUESDAY, JUNE 16^th

SYMPHONY SPACE, 5-8 PM

(95^th St. and Broadway on the south west corner)

Tell the RGB: 

NO increases on ANY leases

Every voice matters in our fight to deliver on the mandate that a million people voted for last year. Landlords and the real estate industry are watching this campaign and are ready to use their vast resources to put roadblocks in our work. Their pockets are deep, but our numbers are strong. Tenants make up 70% of New York City. When we come together, we topple the millions that landlords and the Real Estate industry invest against us.

Be part of history. Let’s Freeze the Rent!

MEET SUE IN THE LOBBY AT 4:30 PM and WALK OVER TOGETHER

When and Where to Vote in the Primaries

JUNE PRIMARIES

EARLY VOTING at

West Side High School    

140 W. 102^nd St.

(enter through pathway on 101^st Street in back of the school)

SATURDAY, 6/13	9 AM – 5 PM
SUNDAY, 6/14	9 AM – 5 PM
MONDAY, 6/15	9 AM – 5 PM
TUESDAY, 6/16	10 AM – 8 PM
WEDNESDAY, 6/17	10 AM – 8 PM
THURSDAY, 6/18	8 AM – 4 PM
FRIDAY, 6/19	9 AM – 5 PM
SATURDAY, 6/20	9 AM – 5 PM
SUNDAY, 6/21	9 AM – 5 PM

REGULAR VOTING

June 23, 2026

6 AM – 9 PM

at PS 163 on 97^th Street

between Columbus & Amsterdam

The congressional candidates panel was packed!

Click here for a video link to the event (after the first couple of minutes).  Thanks to tenant Wilfredo Chau!  Read a transcript of most of the event here. 

About 80 tenants sat and another 20 people stood as the candidates answered questions.  

Photo thanks to Lenora Wade

We started off with five, and then got to six candidates. 

Alex Bores was delayed by a 5 pm NYS Assembly vote on immigration issues in the budget, and so didn't get to the meeting till about 8:15.  

Laura Dunn, an attorney helping women against domestic violence

Micah Lasher, our current NYS Assembly representative (not clear how he made a 3-hour drive in under 2 hours!)

Jack Schlossberg, a blogger who is late Pres. John Kennedy's grandson

Nina Schwalbe, a global health expert, and 

Patrick Timmins, a lawyer and adjunct law professo at John Jay College.

The place was packed!  Photo by Jodi Brockington shows Laura Dunn speaking, standing next to (seated), Micah Lasher, Jack Schlossberg, and Nina Schwalbe. 

 

Pat Loftman (former president of the Park West Village Tenant Association) and Sue Susman (president of the Central Park Gardens Tenants' Association) were the questioners. 

With each candidate answering each question, we didn't get through as much as we'd hoped - but ended up with a lot of information. The sponsoring organizations (the five tenant associations) hope that all the candidates will accept the best ideas. 

The candidates talked about their experience (good,    bad, other), and what they would do to enforce fair  elections without corruption - including defensive redistricting.   Photo by Jodi Brockington                                                                                                                                      The candidates offered some terrific ideas!

You can hear a recording (all but the first five minutes) of the May 21st NY-12 forum of congressional candidates.  You can read a (Google-transcribed) transcription of it here.                                            

Have you filled out the Activities Survey yet?

Online survey by Nick Youngson, creative commons license, Pix4free 

Please take a few moments to fill out the tenant association survey by JUNE 5, 2026 so we can create more activities that tenants want.  It should take you under 5 minutes!

You can click on the word "Survey" or click here: https://forms.gle/5977tFUUnmLaV2qc7 or on the QR code below. 

Tenants who aren't on our email list will get the form in paper.  (If you'd prefer it on paper, please tell Sue.)

HPD to change how it responds to tenant complaints!

Mayor Zohran Mamdani published a new housing plan, Block-by-Block. It includes changes to how - starting October 1, 2026 - HPD will respond to some tenant complaints.

• Tenants will be able to reschedule code inspections
• HPD will no longer just look at one apartment if there are several complaints from the same building about an issue like heat.
• Owners are often allowed to self-certify that they've done the work HPD has required. Sometimes owners lie. Those owners will be put on a watch list. 

If you have friends in city-financed buildings,  the poorest will get their rents reduced from 1/3 of their income to 1/4 of their income.  (Those of us who lived in this building when it was under Mitchell-Lama paid 1/7 or 1/8 of our income!)