THEIR BRAINS MUST HAVE BEEN FROZEN

New York City requires landlords to provide heat to apartments. Sometimes. The rules basically say:

Between October 1st and May 31st, a period designated as "Heat Season," building owners are required to provide tenants with heat under the following conditions:

Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit;

Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

So at night, as long as it's 40 degrees outside, landlords have no obligation to provide any heat at all.

Forty degrees is COLD!

Of course, by 6:00am they are required to get the apartments up to 68 degrees--unless it's 55 or more outside.

The whole thing is ridiculous. What difference does it make what the temperature is outside? What's important is what the temperature is inside.

I suppose there is a tiny justification for the start and end dates--it gives the landlords a definite point when they can shut down the heating systems. But frankly that is little comfort in late September, when the daytime temperatures can slip well below 55.

Who thought up this idiocy anyhow?