The Queens blackout: the brutal human costs of Con Ed’s drive for profit

At its peak, the blackout affected more than 100,000 people in the predominantly working class neighborhoods of Astoria, Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City and Hunters Point. Most of them were left without electricity for a full week. Families were forced to throw out their food and were left with no means to light or cool their homes. The aged and the sick were subjected to intense suffering. Small businesses, including many restaurants and food stores, suffered crippling losses.

And now, the first reports of deaths due to the blackout are coming in. The family of Woodside resident Andres Rodriguez, a 61-year-old painter, charged that the lack of power killed him, after he suffered a heart attack brought on by exhaustion from three nights without sleep. There is no doubt that more such deaths will be reported in the coming days.

The blame for this massive human suffering in a city that boasts one of the greatest concentrations of wealth in the world lies squarely with the socially irresponsible management of the biggest utility company in America, based on the pursuit of short-term profits and at the expense of maintaining a vital electrical system upon which millions depend.

As the Socialist Equality Party’s candidate for Senate from New York, I call for a full and independent investigation into the handling of this disaster by both Con Ed and the city. Moreover, in answer to the profit-driven negligence and irresponsibility of the power company, my party advances the demand that Con Ed be taken out of private hands and run as a public utility, in the interests of the people of New York and under their democratic control.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/nyci-j25.shtml