By Dan Murphy
Yonkers resident Frank Spotorno is better known in the New York City-metropolitan area as “Frankie Elevator” because of his elevator cab company that operates in Queens. Spotorno has been building and installing elevator cabs for three decades, and is a proud supporter of labor and insists on employing union workers.
Last year, Spotorno moved his business from Astoria to St. Albans, and when he relocated, little did he realize he would fall in the middle of an “energy war” between environmental, green advocates and the utility industry.
Here in Westchester, Con Edison has declared a moratorium on any new residence or business in mid- and lower-Westchester that wants to connect to a natural gas line. The ban, which has been in effect since March, has resulted in new development projects to either use oil for their heat – or tough luck. That moratorium remains in effect, with Con Ed claiming it can no longer provide the ever-increasing demand for more natural gas without getting approval from the state for another natural gas pipeline.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and environmental advocates say “no” to any new natural gas pipeline and instead say the time is now to wean New Yorkers off of fossil fuels and begin the process of transferring to solar, wind, geothermal and hydro-electric power. Approving another natural gas pipeline would only continue the climate change problem that has now become a global crisis, they say.
In Queens and Long Island, the utility company is National Grid, which had the same concerns that Con Ed had with providing natural gas to its customers and imposed the same moratorium on new customers last year.
So when Spotorno moved his business, Park Avenue Elevator Designs, from Astoria to St. Albans, he was considered a new customer and was not given a natural gas connection. His story was recently featured on NY 1 News.
NY 1 News reporter Clodagh McGowan reported:
“Outside, it was sunny and mild, but inside this warehouse on Merrick Boulevard , Frank Spotorno, the owner of Park Avenue Elevator Designs, said, ‘How cold is it in here now? Pretty cold, right?’
“Spotorno is the president of Park Avenue Elevator Designs. In April, he moved his almost 30-year-old business from Astoria to St. Albans. But when he signed up for gas service, National Grid told him it was not taking new customers. ‘So, we dealt with the issue by just washing our hands with cold water,’ Spotorno said.
“The elevator company was one of many utility customers caught in the middle this year when National Grid and Gov. Andrew Cuomo battled over the utility’s plan for a gas pipeline offshore. In May, National Gird imposed a moratorium on new gas connections because the Cuomo administration opposed the pipeline for environmental reasons.
“But when the state threatened to revoke its license, the utility last month backed down and lifted the moratorium. In Queens, however, Spotorno was still waiting. ‘No hot water. Freezing!’ Spotorno said, putting his hand underneath water pouring from a faucet in his warehouse.
“As the weeks went by and the weather turned frigid, he gave his 16 employees paid time off – and worried he might have to close up altogether. ‘The other day it was an icebox,’ Spotorno said. ‘You could literally have put food in here and it could have frozen. You cannot have employees working in this environment.’
“NY1 contacted National Grid and was told the delay was Spotorno’s fault. The utility said it was waiting for him to submit an application for new service. But Spotorno gave us a copy of his completed application, dated Nov. 13.
“However, while we were interviewing Spotorno at his offices, a National Grid worker, who did not want to appear on camera, stopped in and promised the utility would install a meter and begin gas service in the new year. ‘Before my men come back, we’re going to have heat! And I want to thank NY1!’ Spotorno said. ‘ don’t ever want to hear anybody call any media person fake news. Because it’s the news that gets the job done.’
“Now, instead of closing its doors in 2020, business for this Queens elevator company definitely will heat up in the new year.” (End of McGowan report.)
Spotorno, who was recently honored as a labor and community activist, is busy with another pursuit in 2020; he is running for president of Local 279 in New York City, the International Brotherhood of Carpenters. Spotorno was an elevator carpenter for 32 years and is still a member.
While we are hopeful Spotorno will soon have power. The same problem exists here in Westchester with Con Edison’s new natural gas customers moratorium now in effect. Much more on this issue in 2020.
