Brooklyn, NY - Elevator More Broken Than Fixed

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - Residents say that the elevator in the six-story building at 84 Ross St. known as Bedford Gardens, was on the fritz all last week, and that service has been spotty for almost a year.
"Every day it's broken," said Rabbi Joseph Hershkowitz, whose sister lives on the fifth floor of 84 Ross St. in the Bedford Gardens development. "It's a consistent, constant complaint.," and the elevator is the only option for many of the building's elderly or disabled residents. "I have to go to doctor visits almost every day," said Rifca Werzberger, 76, who recently suffered a stroke and uses a wheelchair to get around her third-floor apartment. "I can't take the stairs."

"For my son, it's terrible," said Elizabeth Klein, 58, whose 24-year-old son, Joel, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. Managers have sent workers to carry the wheelchair down the stairs when the elevator is out, but it's an uncomfortable process.

Managers responded to the complaint this week, and a subsequent visit confirmed that the elevator was generally operable. They said they come immediately when called.

"It's more broken than working," said Henny Scher, 28. "It's one elevator for close to 100 families," he said. "What do you expect, that it will work forever?"

Building managers said there are plans to replace the elevator in the "near future," but couldn't be more specific.