By Benyamin Davidsons
An audit by City Comptroller Scott Stringer has revealed that Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Buildings Department missed deadlines or failed to re-inspect structures with dangerous conditions, threatening public safety over 5,400 times.
As reported by the NY Post, Stringer’s recent probe exposed the DOB’s failure to conduct 2,986 of the roughly 6,381 required re-inspections within the 60-day timeline, as required under the administrative code. Further, it found that it never scheduled another 596 reviews. Also, the investigation indicated that the DOB frequently missed its 60-day deadline, rather setting up 1,819 subsequent follow-ups.
“No one should have to live or work in fear of debris or unstable scaffolding crashing down on them in a home, place of work, or at any other site in this city,” said Stringer. “Our audit of DOB’s internal procedures uncovered multiple failures that pose a direct risk to public safety,” he added. “DOB has a responsibility to protect the public – and it absolutely must live up to that promise.”
Stringer blasted the Buildings Department, saying the probe focused on the violations “identified as posing a threat of imminent danger to public safety or property.” His office also, however, uncovered that the DOB also missed its internal goals often. Stringer’s office said that when reviewing paperwork to ensure repairs are properly completed, the 21-day self-imposed deadline was met only 42 percent of the time.
City officials formally replied to Stringer saying that they agree with the recommendations to intensify their efforts regarding the 60-day re-inspections, as well as making the 21-day goal for processing certifications of repairs a more formal requirement. In a statement, they defended the agency’s overall performance. “We’re improving our service levels across the agency to meet our other legally required timelines, all while handling a significantly expanded workload,” said DOB spokesman Andrew Rudansky. “New York City deserves safe communities, and we’ll do our part by holding our inspection work to the highest standards in the country.”
The City Comptroller’s review comes close to a year after a piece of building facade fell off a Midtown Manhattan tower at 729 7th Avenue on 49th Street last December, killing architect Erica Tishman, who was walking on the sidewalk below. As per the Post, Buildings Department inspectors had warned about the building, months prior to the dreadful accident, for failing to maintain its facade, citing “damaged terra cotta at areas above 15th floor in several locations which poses a falling hazard for pedestrians.”