Con Ed Needs To Stop Hot Zones

Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill into law to make sure utilities repair infrastructure on sidewalks and in streets, after the accidental death of East Village resident Jodie Lane earlier this year. Electrical wires' rubber casing were corroded by the snow and salt, electrocuting Lane and her dogs. The news outraged and worried residents not just in the East Village but all over the city, especially as Con Ed found many "hot zones." Bloomberg said, "This tragedy makes clear the need to take further action to ensure the safety of pedestrians as they navigate the city's streets and sidewalks. The public should be assured of the integrity of the electrical equipment located on and below the city's streets and sidewalks." The Post also reports that the law mandates that the Department of Transportation make random tests for stray voltage.

For more information about the effort to make citizens aware of hot zones, go to the Jodie Lane Project.