Latimer repeats call for Con Ed, NYSEG chiefs to resign
<p>Westchester County Executive George Latimer and almost 60 local leaders blasted Con Edison and NYSEG after their response to two major storms that hit the Hudson Valley in less than a week.</p>
News 12 Staff
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Mar 9, 2018, 11:00 PM
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Updated 2,231 days ago
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Flanked by dozens of like-minded Westchester lawmakers at the County Center in White Plains, County Executive George Latimer repeated his call for top executives at Con Edison and NYSEG to resign.
The calls to step down come after the utilities’ response to two nor’easters that left tens of thousands of people in Westchester and the Hudson Valley without power for days.
"Con Ed was missing in action," said Latimer.
Assemblyman Tom Abinanti agreed.
"Con Edison has forfeited the right to be called a public utility. They have totally failed the public," he said.
Rikkia Mills, who lives in Mount Vernon with her two disabled kids, says she couldn’t get a straight answer from Con Edison about when the power would return.
"Seven text messages saying the power is back on, and it wasn't on," says Mills.
Anthony Carpentieri, of Mount Pleasant, had a similar story. He was in the dark from almost a week.
"There was a complete lack of transparency related to the completion time and restoration time of power,” he said.
Con Edison CEO John McAvoy deflected questions about the calls for him to step down during a news conference in Manhattan.
"We are laser focused on the restoration of our customers in a safe and fast as possible manner," he said.
NYSEG issued a statement that reads in part, “We are actively engaged with the Public Service Commission to address any operational concerns they may have."
Latimer says he can't directly force these top executives to step down, but he intends to keep the pressure up.
Civic leaders and residents say they will be making their voices heard at hearings before the Public Service Commission - the watchdog group that has oversight on public utilities.
