Five Families Without Power For Last 2 Months Following Death Of Landlord May Soon See The Light

ReportingLou Young BROOKLYN (CBS) ― They were left in the dark for months after their building lost its electricity. But five families in Brooklyn could soon get their lights back on. "Two months now we're in darkness and I'm doing anything to get lights," one resident told CBS 2 HD. The tenants left without power by a landlord who died are still in the dark, hauling ice to keep food and medicine cool and burning candles for dim lights. There could be electricity at the end of the tunnel, though. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is now making calls on their behalf. "It seems that the previous owner, the one who died, had taken extraordinary liberties … and other services," Markowitz said. Down in the basement CBS 2 HD found evidence that the code violations may have been taken care of. Recent work indicates that all Con Ed has to do is install some meters and this place could be up and running. However, the tenants have been told there is more going on than code violations – the dead landlord's unpaid bill that has kept them in the dark. "They said they would get the hallway lights back on but the apartment lights, they don't know about that," tenant Danny Peters said. "That's up to Con Ed." The problem is utilities were included in the rent here, but the landlord might not have paid. CBS 2 HD checked with the utility Thursday night and Con Ed promised to verify the status of the account and the condition of the electrical equipment.