Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Government buildings exempt from city codes?

From DNA Info:

Politicians are renewing their call for stricter building and fire codes in the wake of the recent acquittals in the Deutsche Bank fire cases.

Borough President Scott Stringer and State Sen. Daniel Squadron say more than 800 buildings in New York — including the former Deutsche Bank building, which was razed — are exempt from city safety codes because they are owned by the state or federal government.

Those buildings, which include the United Nations and Lower Manhattan's federal courthouses, do not have to allow building and fire safety inspectors inside, nor are they subject to penalties for safety violations, Stringer said.

"It's time we extend basic code protections for all New Yorkers to all of our buildings — so these tragedies become a thing of the past," Stringer said.

State Sen. Daniel Squadron sponsored legislation last year that created a state-city panel to address the loophole. Squadron expects the panel to begin meeting later this year and issue recommendations that would go to the legislature for approval next spring.

10 comments:

KG2V said...

Including the UN? Humm, methinks he needs to realize that legally, it's not even in the US, never mind NYC

Anonymous said...

Citifield and Yankee Stadiums still don't have Certificates of Occupancies. How about the DOB give them a vacate order and padlock these places. 'Monkey see Monkey do.'

Anonymous said...

And schools.....

what gets me: check the buildings where the Department of Buildings is located! violations don't need to be addressed, even if they are issued.

Anonymous said...

Government is immune from its own laws by the Speach and debate clause of the Constitution.

Anonymous said...

What is speach?

Anonymous said...

Anon. No. 4: I believe that what you're referring to is called the First Amendment.

Anonymous said...

“...shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their attendance at the Session of their Respective Houses, and in going to and from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.”

Don't think this applies.

Anonymous said...

Usually when making legislation like ObamaCare Congress adds an amendment making itself immune to the law that it is foisting on the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

You know, Obamacare would be very helpful if a school burns down and kids are disabled for the rest of their lives...

Anonymous said...

There ia also vitually no recycleing done either!