Without Power, New York High Rise Living Is a Hike

Thousands of New Yorkers are discovering the pain and problems of high-rise living when there's no electricity to carry them up dozens of flights.

Published

8 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States

Places

United States of America, New York City, New York

Transcript

SCRIPT: This is the only way up in this Manhattan high-rise. Daniel Lechner lives on the 20th floor. Superstorm Sandy wiped out electricity in his building. But he's trying to put a positive spin on city living without an elevator. SOUNDBITE 1 Daniel Lechner (man), New York resident (English, 7 sec): "So it's a good work out. I'm running the marathon Sunday. So, God willing, it's good cross-training." During his workout, he meets his neighbors. They live on the 27th floor -- and have had enough of the ups and downs. SOUNDBITE 2 Jimmy Spana (man), New York resident (English, 8 sec): "We have our friends in the upper 80s, East Side. So… sleeping on the couch!" In the distance: a building with power. But here, residents are out of luck. The storm has divided New York into the "haves" and "have nots" -- of electricity, that is. In the trendy neighborhood of Chelsea, it's still a shock to find oneself among the "have nots". SOUNDBITE 3 Stephanie Ross (woman), New York resident (English, 10 sec): "It never crossed my mind that we would have to take those steps. We were at our girlrfiends' apartment last night, they live on 12th and that was... interesting" But residents at Daniel's place have united: they've managed to get hold of a generator, with enough power to light the hall as well as everyone's mobile phones. SOUNDBITE 4 Daniel Lechner (man), New York resident (English, 7 sec): "It's the only place where there is power in the house and it's almost 30 floors, so it's a house packed of people." One building, united around a few power plugs -- waiting until the house lights come up again. -------------------------------------------- SHOTLIST: NEW YORK, OCT 30, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Daniel Lechner climbing stairs in apartment building - SOUNDBITE 1 Daniel Lechner - VAR of Jimmy Spana and woman going down stairs with suitcase and bags - SOUNDBITE 2 Jimmy Spana - Pan from lit building in distance to darkened building in foreground - Tilt up from suitcase to women speaking - SOUNDBITE 3 Stephanie Ross - Lechner walking in building - Pan on lights strung up on ceiling of building lobby - Lechner plugs pone in onto table with laptops and phones - SOUNDBITE 4 Daniel Lechner - Lechner leading into stairwell - Two shots of entrance to building lobby