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In the wake of a judge dismissing charges daredevil Jeb Corliss for his attempted jump off the Empire State Building, Mayor Bloomberg is very upset.
"If I understand the ruling, just from reading the headlines, the judge said the guy did nothing wrong and should be able to jump off buildings with a single bound or whatever - I don't know where the judge is coming from. Whether it's legal, that's up to the court system to decide. But we do not need people jumping off of tall buildings in New York City - certainly [not] without a permit."Yeah, if you can't smoke in a restaurant, Mayor B sure as hell isn't going to let you jump off a building! The Daily News reports State Senator Marty Golden says he'll propose laws to ban "leaping from any bridge, building or antenna in this city," so all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed with the law.
But Corliss's lawyer Mark Jay Heller is having a field day with the coverage. He says other daredevils are asking him for legal advice: "Now jumpers may flock to New York, to the Brooklyn Bridge, to the Empire State Building and if they are not reckless, can jump and say look I've broken no law - right now, they have a free pass to do this." Oy. And interesting fact about Heller - he's the attorney for the Son of Sam, Fabian Basabe, and one of the guys who beat up an off-duty cop at a White Castle in the Bronx.
Photograph of Mayor Bloomberg and some school children at the opening of the Top of the Rock in May 2005
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I don't know if the mayor should have used the term "jump off the building in a single bound"
Lets not make superheroes out of these idiots. LOL
Is that David Rockefeller in the picture with Bloomberg?
I hate to say it, but isn't that what council is for? Making things illegal?
At the same time, that seems to be council's solution for everything that is even remotely fun. I can imagine the jumper community (if there... is one, I guess) petitioning for the right to jump freely.
"Whether it's legal, that's up to the court system to decide." Umm, I think they just did, brainiac.
But I have to admit, I love love love the "at least without a permit" line! Can't you just see someone answering the phone, "City of New York, Bureau of Daredevils. For permits, press 1"
In the past, with Phillipe Petit and George Willig, they were arrested and charged with heavy felonies, but then the cases were bargained down and subsequently dismissed. This seems different, though, in that it seems like the judge is taking issue with the law itself, not with how it's going to be enforced. Maybe some legal beagles out there can comment further on this.
I say let the jumpers jump off buildings and bridges, but spectators below have the right also to shoot at them as they come down.
So, wait, his attorney beat up a cop at the White Castle?
IMO, that judge is a Moron. Wonder if the city will appeal the decision?
This decision seems to invite all sorts of people to try base jumping off the ESB...
When you make a new law, ordinance, etc., it has to make sense and have a purpose while not violating individuals constitutional rights. The problem with making laws against basejumping is that the very people who make those laws have no concept of the activity. To the non-jumper, stopping people from jumping off buildings sounds like a good idea. To the a basejumper, it would be like making a law that says you can't play baseball because someone might get hit with a foul ball or a broken bat. You still play and attend games while accepting that risk. To date, there have been NO documented instances of an innocent bystander being injured by a basejump gone awry. If it ever became a regular problem, then it might be worth discussion. Otherwise, the city council really should spend their time on writing policy that will ACTUALLY make a difference.
When you make a new law, ordinance, etc., it has to make sense and have a purpose while not violating individuals constitutional rights. The problem with making laws against basejumping is that the very people who make those laws have no concept of the activity. To the non-jumper, stopping people from jumping off buildings sounds like a good idea. To the a basejumper, it would be like making a law that says you can't play baseball because someone might get hit with a foul ball or a broken bat. You still play and attend games while accepting that risk. To date, there have been NO documented instances of an innocent bystander being injured by a basejump gone awry. If it ever became a regular problem, then it might be worth discussion. Otherwise, the city council really should spend their time on writing policy that will ACTUALLY make a difference.