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Releases
& Statements
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
May 30, 2008
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Public Advocate Gotbaum Statement on Today's Crane Collapse
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, "My heart goes out to those affected by today's terrible accident, and their families. This devastating repeat of the crane tragedy that occurred just two months ago has shaken New Yorkers badly.
Its clear we need to be far more strict and crack down on any unsafe construction sites, and its clear we need more inspectors, still. When a violation is issued, disciplinary action must follow. Just two days ago the city decided that inspectors will no longer be present every time a construction crane is being erected or made taller, an emergency provision put in place following the last major accident. This move by the DOB, tightening restrictions following a catastrophe, and then relaxing them as soon as the smoke clears, was likely premature.
We thought the March accident was a wake up call for the Department of Buildings and that a change of leadership would bring a change in safety levels. Now it appears that instead of waking up, the Department of Buildings hit the snooze button. And while they were asleep at the wheel, another crane collapsed, more homes were destroyed, and more New Yorkers were put in harm's way. DOB records show us that this site had a long list of violations, one on April 24, for operating a crane in a unsafe manner. For some baffling reason, the stop-work order was lifted yesterday. The DOB needs to tell us why.
We must all respond to today's tragedy, and as this city’s Public Advocate, I intend to work as hard as I can to get to the bottom of this ongoing negligence in the hopes of preventing another careless accident."
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