City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other Councilmembers are proposing legislation that would require elevator repair technicians to be licensed by the city. The technicians would also be required to submit to a mechanics examination administered by a nationally-or state-approved program. Jeez, what's next, making exterminators get licensed too?! Oh, wait. Looks like the American dream that anybody can grow up to one day be responsible for the safety of thousands of people without any government oversight is dead. more ›

After numerous reports of unsafe elevators in the NYC Housing Authority, the NYCHA official in charge of elevator safety is resigning this week. Many NYCHA residents, including the elderly and disabled, have to put up with non-functioning, even dangerous elevators in their complexes; over the summer, a child fell to his death when trying to escape an elevator that stopped between floors. The NYCHA promised to improve elevator repair and maintenance, but the City Council remained skeptical and recently NYCHA chairman Tino Hernandez announced his resignation. Elevator safety official Charles Miraglia will reportedly pursue work in the private sector, which is something he also did on the side (with permission) while working for the NYCHA. more ›