Gothamist: Rescue Effort Continues After Fatal Crane Collapse

emilydickinson

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:17:21 -0500

@glennQNYC: Absolutely! Everyone knows that George Bushs' lizard man soul gives off a magnetic field that disrupts the molecular makeup of steel. This clearly caused the collapse. One of my co-workers has been bugging me to go to Fubar for the last two months, now I don't have to make up excuses anymore.

JacqueMehoff

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:30:16 -0500

Actually the news when he came to town was Bear Stearns asking for welfare money.

glennQNYC

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:23:52 -0500

I'm surprised none of the nutroots have blamed this on President Bush... He was in town the day before and could have been looking to take down another building. :rolleyes:

Mr Mel

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:06:10 -0500

The real estate and construction industries have sort of a free pass in the city. Sidewalk sheds or overhead bridgework are part of the landscape on most blocks in Manhattan and remain in place for years. Is there corruption? It's a pretty good bet. The real estate families operate without fear that the Building Department is going to bother them much. Mayor Bloomberg knew how to handle the Bd of Ed and teachers union by taking control of the schools away from an entrenched bureaucracy . He should try to do something in the building area as well. A new department staffed by knowledgeable and caring people that won't let construction continue until a violation is cleared. A builder, with connections to the Building Dept or any other inspection unit, that knows the ropes, can get away with almost anything. Is there corruption? You tell me. 4 people are dead many others injured seriously and let's see who, if anybody, other than the victims pay a price.

skowen

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:09:38 -0500

wow, that complaint is pretty damning.

Spiny

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:39:08 -0500

"'As it went higher and higher, I got more and more concerned because I didn't see any more braces installed,' Silberblatt told the Daily News. "So he called the Buildings Department and lodged a complaint." . . . . "The department sent an inspector to the site later that day, records show. "Two days later, the agency ruled that no violations were warranted. "'Crane is erected according to approved' code, reads a note on the Buildings Department Web site. "The inspector listed on the paperwork is Edward Marquette. Reached by The News at his Manhattan home, Marquette denied inspecting the crane that day, saying he had been to the site only once, earlier in the project." Huh. Interesting. For what it's worth: thank you, Bruce Silberblatt, for at least *trying* to get city officials to properly do their job of protecting the public.

babyhitler

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:38:56 -0500

what a retard! "It was an absolute freak accident. All the piece of steel had to do was fall slightly left or right, and nothing would have happened." that's like a criminal saying "It was an absolute freak accident. All the bullet had to do was fall slightly left or right, and the cop wouldn't have died."