Days after a radiator malfunction in The Bronx killed two small homeless girls, a tenant in the building tells NY1 he had the same problem, while officials are proposing legislation to prevent similar tragedies in the future. NY1's Courtney Gross has that story.
Peter and Danielle Ambrose returned to their apartment in The Bronx on Wednesday to get their belongings, including boxes of toys belonging to their two little girls.
1-year-old Scylee Ambrose and 2-year old Ibanez Ambrose died Wednesday after a radiator burst in their apartment and filled their room with steam that burned them.
The family moved to New York more than a year ago and was placed in an apartment as a temporary homeless shelter. Neither parent spoke to the media.
The city has been reeling from the tragedy. The city's department of homeless services says there were 63 open violations at the building.
Inspectors for the city's department of housing preservation and development returned to the scene Friday. They would not take our questions.
But a tenant in the building told NY1 that he has experienced the same problems with his radiator in the past.
"Concerned? I am concerned about leaving anybody here!" said the tenant, Manuel Vazquez.
A city official told NY1 that there were no formal complaints from him about the apartment's radiators.
Meanwhile, the local councilman Rafael Salamanca, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., are calling for action.
Salamanca is proposing legislation to require radiator inspections. The city's department of homeless services does not do that now.
"They should check those radiators and they should check those valves," Salamanca said.
The two officials are also proposing a bill to prohibit the city from placing homeless families in temporary housing where there are serious building violations.
"We should not be giving them the money when they are not only greedy, but they are putting the lives of children and families at risk," Diaz said.
The city council is looking to expedite the legislation, hoping to act as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the city's department of homeless services says the department does not comment on proposed legislation.