The residents at Beechwood Apartments located at 45-47 Woodland Avenue, Summit, NJ - are presenting this petition to Goldberg Realty Company www.goldberg-realty.com a.k.a. Goldberg Properties - as a unified and organized proof of understanding and agreement on behalf of its tenants and their families for the need  of this organization as the owner/management authority  of these multiple dwelling rental properties - to have a contingency plan in place to provide auxiliary power for the heating system to operate during a power outage. This reasonable and attainable measure would be consistent with their mission statement found on the ‘About Us’ page of their website listed above.

The most recent loss of utility power on October 29th, 2012 caused by hurricane Sandy brought about a two week loss of power to most of our area. This event although devastating, especially to families living in other more affected areas that lost homes and loved ones - is not unprecedented given a similar climatic event that occurred a year earlier almost to the same date and brought about a failure of these essential utilities on that occasion as well. The loss of electricity to these properties renders the two separate systems that provide hot water and heat to the over forty apartments in these two “sister” buildings – completely useless without an alternate power source to activate and power them.

During this most recent storm and the days following, many tenants in these buildings were unable to leave their homes due to either a lack of alternate accommodations, transportation or an inconvenience presented by moving to a separate location especially if they have children. Many of the residents are elderly and have lived here for many years and continue being independent and self-sufficient and have either no one living nearby to rely on, and as a consequence, a pride, dignity and right to expect the services they pay for, especially if correctable and having occurred in the past and providing a precedent. The larger, two and three bedroom units of which there are at least four on every level of these three story complimenting structures which are connected by a subterranean passageway – house families with at least one child, some as young as two years of age. If exposed to cold air for prolonged periods, children and the elderly run a greater risk of contracting a respiratory infection or other life threatening condition such as hypothermia even if adequately clothed; this is due to the unavoidable presence of cold air especially when breathed in during a state of rest as when sleeping and as opposed to walking around when outside or performing recreational activities.

The loss of light although a challenge – is preferably mediated by the use of battery powered lamps or flashlights as a safer alternative to candles – but the latter is the method usually used making the need for auxiliary power for the fire alarm as second valid concern. The loss of hot water can also be effectively addressed by heating water on the gas burners of the stove which unlike the ovens of these same electric dependent appliances - remain inoperable to prevent these from being used as a heating alternative due to the introduction of Carbon Monoxide - an odorless lethal gas.

An e-mail sent to the Property Manager along with a Work Order submitted through Goldberg’s website went unanswered. The act of providing generators to power the hot water heaters and prevent the water pipes from freezing was not done until a copy of said e-mail was posted in the lobby and immediately replaced by one from “management” announcing their deed as “gracious” one. Although providing hot water to the apartments as a byproduct of this damage prevention measure - the true need lies in the provision of heat to the units, since hot water was accessible - as communicated.

Connecting generators to the boilers and fire alarm makes better use of equipment that is not only available but were said to have been used at some of the other “84 communities” that Goldberg boasts on their same website as having in their “Portfolio”. A few of these properties are in Summit and only a few blocks on the main road of Summit Avenue. We are asking that the management take this request seriously and realize that although not the responsible for the weather, they should have a certain level of responsibility, accountability and respect for their tenants who are asking for just the provision of a basic service during a time of need and colder time of the year. We therefore request that they create, present and incorporate a contingency plan as and when needed for the provision of heat during a power outage to give us as tenants a greater peace of mind and ability to persevere these events. Please visit and sign this petition at: