The Somers Record 09.10.20

Vol. 10 No. 21 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Thursday, September 10, 2020

Town hopes to end Optimum’s
monopoly in Somers

BY CAROL REIF As it did with New York State Elec-

STAFF WRITER tric & Gas, the town has rounded up a

posse to pursue some answers.

Fed-up Somers o cials hope that le- It took some time after the 2018

veraging public outrage—along with a power outages caused by back-to-back

regulatory component—will help them nor’easters, but the town’s utility task

wring substantial changes out of Altice force and its appeal to the New York

USA. Public Service Commission got results.

Altice, the company that owns Opti- NYSEG and its upstate a liate,

mum, is the sole provider of cable, inter- Rochester Gas & Electric, were ulti-

net, voice and data services for more than mately ned a combined $10 million

half of the households in Somers. for violating state-mandated emergency

Because credible alternatives don’t exist, response plans.

Altice operates as “a monopoly,”according Albany now appears to be pushing for

to the town’s Aug. 21 formal complaint to swifter resolutions.

the Public Service Commission. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced

In that document, Supervisor Rick on Aug. 19 that the state Department

Morrissey dubbed the company’s re- of Public Service sent Notice of Ap-

sponse to Tropical Storm Isaias “chaotic parent Violation letters to four electric

at best.” service providers—Con Edison, Orange

At the height of the Aug. 4 storm, & Rockland, PSE&G LI and Central

400,000 Altice customers reportedly Hudson—and telephone, cable, and in-

Back to school lost service. ternet provider Altice. ey were told
COURTESY OF ROSEANN MENDOZA
Saying frustration with Altice had they face “steep penalties” and “must take
The Somers Record wishes all students a good first week of school! Here’s Isabella
Mendoza, 5, on her first day of kindergarten at Primrose with big sister Sofia “reached unprecedented levels,” the su- immediate corrective actions so that sim-
Mendoza, 8, who is starting third grade at Somers Intermediate School. Send all back
to school photos to [email protected] with your child’s name, age and pervisor added that its “lack of commu- ilar failures are not repeated during the
the town you’re from for possible inclusion over the next few weeks.
nication and storm response has been remainder of the hurricane season.”

alarming.” e DPS has tightened the investiga-

“Given the current environment tion process from 12 to 24 months to

where many depend on internet access six.

for their livelihood, this type of service SEE OPTIMUM PAGE 8
is not acceptable.”

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BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 33
CLASSIFIEDS
ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 34
LEGAL NOTICES
LEISURE 21
OPINION
SPORTS 33

31 NOVEMBER ELECTION

10 Voting explained.
30 pg 3