Tuesday, April 26, 2011
DOB was given ample warning about firetrap
From the Daily News:
The raging Bronx inferno that killed three people highlights the city's growing failure to crack down on illegal firetrap apartments.
By the time the predawn fire erupted at 2321 Prospect Ave., the Buildings Department had fielded five complaints of illegally converted apartments there since October 2009.
The last one came 11 days before the fire, when a caller complained to the department that the third floor had been converted illegally into multiple apartments.
There is no record the department did anything in response.
The track record of inaction that preceded yesterday's tragedy is frighteningly familiar.
The city gets about 20,000 complaints of illegal apartment conversions every year. The rate of city inspectors gaining access to these buildings has steadily dropped from 60% in fiscal 2006 to 45% last fiscal year.
The drop continued in the first four months of this fiscal year, falling to an all-time low of 43%, records show.
In this case, building inspectors visited the address four times after getting complaints from the Fire Department.
Each time, they couldn't get in, records show.
18 comments:
Im torn on the issue.
While i do want the city to better enforce the law, i also dont want them to have to violate property rights, which they would have to do in order to gain access without permission (which is a founding condition that our nation is based on).
And Bloomberg is STILL the Mayor?
I lived in a hellhole in Ridgewood. A million people in what should have been a 2 family house. I called in to the DOB several times, all they do is knock on the door. If the goon the landlord has working for him denies access, they just walk away. No harm, no foul. Isn't it time to issue a fine just for denying access?
08/25/2009 C3 ACCESS DENIED - 1ST ATTEMPT - 08/13/2009
ACCESS DENIED BY MALE. - LS4 POSTED
02/12/2010 C4 ACCESS DENIED - 2ND ATTEMPT - 02/08/2010
ACCESS DENIED BY MALE. - LS4 SERVED
That's all that happened as a result of a complaint. They don't give a crap.
RE a fine for denying access - wouldn't stick, there is this little thing called the 4th Amendment. You want in, you get a search warrant. I know some city offical comes knocking on my door, the answer is "Do you have a warrant?" Unless the answer is "Yes" the answer is "No, you may not enter"
"The essence of government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse." James Madison
build affordable housing for poor people.
not projects which have not had new ones built since 1964
was this property owned by an immigrant?
because it seems all the people who lived and live in it are illegal aliens.
if they had been deported they might be alive today.
Can someone tell me what about this story makes you think this was not a warrant-worthy condition? Vacated by FDNY...electricity turned off....SRO....
Save the property rights B.S. If the house is inhabitable, it's not a home.
Exactly, the government must have the ability to inspect a building to make sure it is up to code. You want to believe the scumlords?
RICKSHAWS are presently blocking the avenues and streets in Manhattan. the tourists seem to have no fear that an out of control cab, more times than not driven by an illegal alien, can hurt them.
one must hold a phd. in motoring to navigate the Manhattan streets. reading all of the intersection signage can be very confusing and distracting.
Reports say an official FDNY vacate was already in effect. As per the Administrative Code the NYPD has the power to enforce it.
Question is why wasn't a show of force by multiple agencies especialy the ones with guns.
You don't need a warrant.
Maybe lives could have been saved.
The best the DOB can do is issue violations if they get access.
And if reports are true they receive 20,000 complaints a year how can they be expected to respond to a 2 week old complaint. There's plenty of blame, as always when tragedy strikes, to go around.
the last comment should have been on the "cyclist" post.
no one is perfect....
maybe if fire marshals joined with the d.o.b. inspectors, action would have been taken?
when calling 311,d.o.b... always ask for a supervisor.
the operators seem to be incompetent and reading off of instruction sheets for advice ?
giving up is an option,but action must be taken.
it is your civic duty, even if this system is a scam.....
Wonder how "torn you'd be on the issue" if one of the fatalies involved was a relative of yours?
this fire occurred in the land of the forsaken-the Bronx. these blocks are commandeered and patrolled by gang drug dealers. the street that the house is on is a mega drug store, happy land for crack heads. everyone is afraid of these pit bull, gun owners. Civic minded people are victimized by the gangs.
vacate orders, and court orders are only for white people and American citizens who obey the law. if you are an illegal immigrant, a Dominican or black person, you do what ever you want. it's any thing goes.
the DOB inspectors are all Dominican and Caribbean males who have relationships with the gang/drug dealers and are not above taking graft from them and other slumlords.
the solution? fire the DOB inspectors who pretended to not get access. how can the inspectors prove that they even went to the premises?
It's funny how the NYPD can rifle through your pockets in hopes and attempts at finding weed or small contraband but they cannot get access to a home that is essentially a death trap.
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