Monday, February 28, 2011

Sewage in people's bathtubs

From the Queens Chronicle:

A bowl and bucket — that is what Sergio Gonzales has been forced to use as a toilet ever since a sewer backup at the Jamaica apartment building where he lives has crippled the water system, filling toilets and tubs with a putrid smelling brown liquid for eight days from Feb. 11 to 18.

“It’s murder. It’s terrible,” Gonzales said of the living conditions. “I have to spray the whole apartment and light incense because the odor is so terrible. I haven’t taken a bath in six days.”

Gonzales, a native of Colombia, has lived in a basement apartment at 88-22 Parsons Blvd. for 37 years and says he has never remembered a sewer backup lasting so long. He has plenty of air fresheners and cologne on hand to try and cover up the smell, but they hardly make a difference.

It is for that reason that he and his dog, a 6-year-old pug named Terminator Max confine themselves to a bedroom and wait for repairs to be made. Gonzales refuses to drink the water out of the kitchen faucet even if it appears to be clean, because he fears getting ill.

In the kitchen he has set aside a bowl and bucket, which he uses as a toilet, emptying the former into the kitchen sink and the later into a garbage bin outside. His real toilet has not functioned for nearly a week. Gonzales said the whole process has been humiliating.

16 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

Queens. The Turd World.

Moby said...

MMMMMMmmmmmmm soup!

Anonymous said...

Go to a hotel, sue the landlord for the cost in small claims court. The plaintiff almost never loses.

Anonymous said...

Looking at the filthy toilet seat, the tub fits right in.

Anonymous said...

Withhold the rent, call board of health to get other agencies such the Housing, building,aging and Helen Marshall (forget her she is useless) - get these folks out of their office to help you and the residents of this building.

Anonymous said...

Harlem is worse. Lowsy plumbing backflows, so cleanest tap water in the world comes from upstate and mingles with local feces. We have to have the guts to tear down old buildings and forget histrionic preservation.

Queens Crapper said...

Lousy plumbing can be replaced without tearing down the entire building. Most in crappy condition are not landmarked buildings, either. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Anonymous said...

Time to call the Health Department. This is a serious health condition. I wouldn't spend one night there.

ew-3 said...

"Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater."

QC, I wouldn't put a baby in that bathwater.

Linda Danz said...

I'd guess that the "filthy toilet seat' is actually one of those clear plastic seats design-embellished.

Anonymous said...

Could it be the weaklies are good for something after all? Or just this one?

Anonymous said...

Could it be the weaklies are good for something after all? Or just this one?

The Chronic-le is the best of the worst!

Anonymous said...

this shit really stinks!

Anonymous said...

I think you folks have glossed over the most important aspect of this story. The guy named his dog "Terminator Max." Brilliant.

Anonymous said...

The story has a "Flushing" appeal!

Anonymous said...

Linda Danz: That's a dumb idea. The reporter was standing there taking the picture. I think she'd know if it was flowers.