Monday, December 29, 2008

Inspector once worked for cranes' owner

A top city inspector who pushed to keep using two unsafe cranes that collapsed onto Manhattan streets once worked for the cranes' owner, the Daily News has learned.

Former chief crane inspector Michael Carbone worked for James Lomma, owner of the two doomed cranes, for five years before joining the Buildings Department in 1999.

They served together on the department's influential Cranes and Derricks Advisory Council, and Carbone approved permits for both Lomma-owned cranes before they toppled at East Side construction sites.

The approvals came even after a key Buildings Department supervisor and outside experts warned of potential dangers involving both cranes.

Carbone resigned in July, after Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri accused him of "neglect of duty."

LiMandri refused to provide details, saying the case was part of an "ongoing internal investigation." Criminal probes of both collapses are underway.


Top city crane inspector worked for company in two fatal collapses

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Of course!What else would you expect in this conflict of intrest city.Its like the head of Monsanto working for the FDA.