Results tagged “inspector”

A 44-year-old mother of two died and three others were critically injured by a fire that tore through a Flushing apartment early Sunday morning. The deceased, Bianca Wisniewski, was due in federal court today for a hearing in her $20 million sexual-harassment lawsuit against Total Safety Consulting and JPMorgan Chase. Four of the 110 firefighters at the scene suffered minor injuries, and the fire was ultimately contained to the single apartment, because the cement and steel walls stopped it from spreading.

As the Department of Health starts moving toward a new restaurant inspection system requiring eateries to display letter grades, the Times tags along with one DOH inspector as he gives a deli buffet in the Financial District the white glove treatment. Inspector Corey Williams explains, "Nobody is glad to see us... You name it, and I’ve seen it. I’ve even seen managers panic and try to take moldy food out the back door while I’m watching." Also lots of rats, both living and dead. During the inspection, owner Peter Kim tells the Times, "My heart is racing. They are so strict. They cost me, $2,000, $3,000, easy, each time they come." Luckily, Williams finds no vermin and Kim squeaks by with a score of 21, the equivalent of a B grade under the new system, which goes into effect in July 2010. That's assuming the restaurant industry, which put up such a fight over the calorie rules, doesn't stop it. One of the industry's main complaints is that although the letter grades must be displayed immediately, restaurateurs still have to wait three weeks to challenge a finding.

Two cats living in an apartment completely destroyed by the Midtown crane collapse have been found and reunited with their owners. The recovery of Mr. Gloves and Gooksie was in no small part due to the efforts of Gini Otway, a neighbor who also volunteers at the animal rescue and adoption organization City Critters.