Unions, contractors, and developers call for public benefit corporation to replace DOB. On May 6, 2008, the City Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee heard testimony from the acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings, Robert LiMandri, and the public on a dozen proposed local laws aimed at improving safety at construction sites in the City.

Council Member Jessica Lappin sponsored Intro 760 that would give Buildings the power to order a site owner to hire an independent safety monitor, at the expense of a site owner, to work exclusively at construction sites with repeated safety violations. Council Member Tony Avella sponsored an even stricter measure, Intro 697, that would allow Buildings to deny permits to developers who repeatedly violate building codes and zoning laws. Council Members Miguel Martinez and Letitia James sponsored Intro 761 and 759, respectively, that would require contractors to post signs in at least nine languages at all construction sites to inform workers of their right to report unsafe conditions via a new anonymous construction industry whistleblower hotline, separate from 311. Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito sponsored Intro 688, which would require Buildings to register all general contractors for new buildings. Lastly, Intro 763, sponsored by Council Member Annabel Palma, would add all “housekeeping” violations, such as excessive debris and broken safety fences, to the Building Code’s list of immediately hazardous violations. (read more…)