Bankrupt Pinnacle Group Is Leaving Its Tenants in the Dark—Literally

New York real estate behemoth Pinnacle Group is behind tens of thousands of dollars in electricity bills at several of its properties, leaving tenants to fight for themselves as the company faces bankruptcy proceedings.

The situation came to a head last week when Con Edison cut the power to the common areas of two Crown Heights apartment buildings—one for over 24 hours. Tenant organizers say the same could happen at more buildings if Pinnacle doesn't pay past-due notices for nearly a dozen other properties across the city.

"I went ballistic," said Mildred Ross, who has lived at 1048 Union Street in Crown Heights for 47 years. "We have tenants here that are very sick, in their 80s and 90s, that need the ambulance to come and take them up and down the steps."