Observer » Patricia Lancaster

Why Building Things in New York Comes Down to What You Learned (or Didn’t Learn) from Mom and Dad

Matt Coyne — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:13:51 -0400

New York real estaters met at NYU's Schack Institute on Wednesday morning for a brief breakfast forum on construction ethics. While the mafia wasn't represented—possibly because of the mass arrests last month—their presence could've gone a long way to help filling up the empty seats.

"Here at New York University we're trying to instill in our studetns a sense of ethical behavior," said Richard Lambeck, a professor at Schack and moderator of the panel. "[Greed] is a major problem for our particular industry."

The panel, called "illustrious" by Mr. Lambeck, included lawyer Neil Eiseman, former New York Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster and Joel Kosman, who led the first sucessful criminal prosecution of a general contractor for the wrongful death of five workers in a scaffolding collapse.

Mr. Eiseman, who played on the idea of unethical behavior not necessarily being illegal, and Mr. Kosman, who posulated that the only meaningful way contractors can be punished is if one of their unethical actions results in a death, both generally agreed that it all comes down to your understanding of right and wrong. Ms. Lancaster, on the other hand, focused on her attempts to create ethical guidelines while at the Department of Buildings: thou shalt not use your company car for personal use, thou shalt not inflate invoices, etc.

"A lot of this really is subjective, and if you had parents that taught you right from wrong is probably 99.9 percent of it," Mr. Eiseman said. "I don't know if it's something that you can teach."

"The line between ethical conduct and someone being killed is pretty direct," Mr. Kosman said.

The panelists, and New York Building Congress head Richard Anderson, who was there as an attendee, did agree—along with, we assume, anyone familiar with construction at all—that the industry is rife with corruption, or, as Mr. Anderson, who was recently profiled by The Commercial Observer, called it "a culture of tolerance."

What followed was a lot of high-minded academic-speak focusing on making students—this was an NYU event—aware of ethics, what is right and wrong and infusing them with a deep-seated desire to do the right thing. But when it came down to practice—punishing Building Congress members for getting indicted was proposed—the ideas were backed off from relatively quickly, with Mr. Anderson saying he didn't want to convict members before a trial.

mcoyne@observer.com

Now, the Buildings Department Decides to Inspect High-Risk Construction Sites

Eliot Brown — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:58:44 -0400

The city will conduct an “intensive, in-depth assessment” of high-risk construction in the city, the Department of Buildings announced Wednesday, one day after commissioner Patricia Lancaster resigned.

"This year, we have seen an increase in accidents and injuries related to high-risk construction activities," acting commissioner Robert LiMandri said in a statement, "and we must make sure that as construction activity in the City continues to increase, the Department’s ability to hold the construction industry to higher safety standards keeps pace."

The department will spend $4 million to bring in outside engineers and others to oversee the review.

Press release below, followed by a statement from Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

ACTING BUILDINGS COMMISSIONER ROBERT LIMANDRI ANNOUNCES INTENSIVE, IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF HIGH-RISK CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

City Launching Comprehensive Analysis of High-Risk Construction Activities;

$4 Million Assessment of Crane, Concrete and Excavation Operations Underway

Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert D. LiMandri today announced an unprecedented $4 million investment to conduct an intensive, in-depth assessment of high-risk construction activities—high-rise concrete operations, excavations and crane operations—to determine the steps that need to be taken to make these specialized trades safer. Engineering experts will conduct in-depth site inspections to analyze the materials, processes and systems employed during these high-risk operations. These engineering experts will supplement the Department’s inspection staff by conducting highly-specialized inspections while also reviewing the Department’s current inspection protocols to identify any necessary changes to its oversight of these activities. Through this process, the Department will develop a Construction Analysis and Oversight Plan that will be a blueprint to expand the agency’s efforts to make high-risk construction activities safer.

“Construction safety requires unwavering commitment from every responsible party involved, at every level in the construction process. This year we have seen an increase in accidents and injuries related to high-risk construction activities, and we must make sure that as construction activity in the City continues to increase, the Department’s ability to hold the construction industry to higher safety standards keeps pace,” said Acting Commissioner Robert LiMandri. “The assessment we are launching today is unprecedented. We are conducting a top-to-bottom analysis of how these industries function in the field so that we can best oversee them and hold them to the high safety standards New Yorkers deserve. This investment is about identifying ways in which the Department and the construction industry can make high-risk activities safer.”

The $4 million committed by Mayor Bloomberg to develop a Construction Analysis and Oversight Plan will enable the Buildings Department to immediately bring in approximately 20 specialized engineering experts who will work with the agency over the next eight to twelve months. In their analysis, these experts will conduct inspections and site visits, review protocols, and develop recommendations that the Department will implement on an ongoing basis, rather than wait for a final report.

Safety Analysis of Concrete Operations

Mainly used to build high-rise residential buildings and foundations, concrete operations – the pouring of concrete into formwork until the concrete is set and solid – pose unique challenges to builders in New York City. Often performed at incredible heights in open, unenclosed buildings exposed to the elements, concrete pouring can lead to serious accidents when safe practices and building regulations are not followed. In 2006 and 2007, concrete operations accounted for 30% of all high-rise construction incidents with a total of 48 incidents, 14 of which resulted in an injury or fatality. Of the 48 incidents, 47 involved material falling during the concrete phase of construction. Incidents have continued in 2008, including a collapse of concrete formwork at 246 Spring Street in Manhattan where one worker died and two sustained injuries. To develop this component of the Construction Analysis and Oversight Plan, experts in concrete operations will review the entire concrete phase of construction, including the installation of wood and steel formwork and related shores; the actions of pouring concrete into the formwork; and the stripping of formwork from set concrete. As part of this process, concrete experts will conduct site visits and inspections on both high- and low-rise construction sites, and will actively engage industry stakeholders—including assessing the expertise of the workers pouring and setting concrete to determine whether additional training is needed. The assessment and recommendations will also include a review of the frequency and substance of the Department’s current inspections of these operations and will recommend any changes needed to increase worker and public safety.

Safety Analysis of Excavation Operations

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Excavation operations, which are most often conducted in preparation for laying a foundation, are a particularly challenging area of construction in New York City given the proximity and risk to neighboring properties and equipment. If not executed in accordance with properly engineered plans, excavations can injure or kill workers and seriously undermine the structural stability of neighboring properties. In 2006 and 2007, excavations and trenching operations have accounted for 13% of all construction incidents with a total of 101 incidents, 16 of which resulted in an injury or fatality. The Department created a new, permanent Excavations Team in 2007, which has conducted a total of 2,575 inspections and issued Stop Work Orders on 475 jobs. The results from the Excavations Team’s work demonstrates the need for additional oversight of this area of the construction industry, particularly in light of the looming deadline for the 421-a tax benefit program and the high volume of construction of new buildings throughout the five boroughs. Excavation experts will develop this component of the Plan using data from the Excavations Team and by conducting site visits and field inspections. In addition to assessing current practices to determine whether the industry is employing the best means and methods for digging and shoring operations to ensure the safety of their workers and of adjacent properties, excavation experts will examine the Department’s existing inspection protocols and the regulations applicable to excavation operations.

Safety Analysis of Cranes and Derricks

New York City currently has approximately 30 tower cranes and 220 mobile cranes in use. Crane accidents are rare, but as the accident on March 15, 2008 showed, when they happen, the results can be devastating. Tower cranes are highly-engineered hoisting structures comprised of stacked steel tower mast sections assembled on the construction site where they are to be used. Mobile cranes are pre-built structures that typically do not require on-site assembly to operate and are often smaller in size. The Department recently completed a sweep of tower crane inspections during which 8 of the 29 cranes inspected—28%—were shut down for some period of time. A review of mobile cranes is now under way, but the March 15 collapse that resulted in 7 fatalities and the results of the tower crane sweep have made clear that a thorough review of crane operations and oversight is needed. To develop this component of the Construction Analysis and Oversight Plan, crane experts will examine the Department’s current permitting and inspection practices and will review current industry practices on job sites to determine what changes can be made to improve safety and reduce the risk of injury or other harm to workers, the public, and public and private property. The participation of construction industry stakeholders in this process, from riggers to general contractors, will be critical to its success.

Recommendations Will be Implemented as They are Made

The Construction Oversight and Analysis Plan will be initiated through an emergency contract, to immediately get the resources needed to evaluate crane, concrete and excavation operations for gaps in existing safety protocols. The Department will not wait for a final report to begin to make changes in these critical areas and will act as soon as the need for a regulatory or operational change is clear. At the same time that this assessment and planning are underway, the Department will work with OMB to conduct an assessment of other high-risk activities, including demolitions and steel and curtain-wall erections to determine if a more in-depth review of these activities needed as part of the Construction Oversight and Analysis Plan.

Since 2002, the Buildings Department has worked aggressively to infuse integrity and accountability into the construction process. With aggressive safety enforcement models being utilized by the Stop Work Order Patrol, the Excavations Team, and the Buildings Enforcement Safety Team, Buildings inspectors are conducting more proactive inspections of construction activity across the five boroughs than at any point in the Department’s history. Building on this progress, the Construction Oversight and Analysis Plan will further the Department’s mission of furthering the safe and lawful use of all of New York City’s 975,000 buildings and properties.

New Yorkers are encouraged to call 3-1-1 to report non-compliant conditions or 9-1-1 to report emergencies at construction sites.

Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn
Re: DOB Construction Site Analysis

I want to commend the Mayor and Acting Commissioner LiMandri for making a much-needed investment in the long-term future of DOB. In the wake of the disclosure at the Council’s last hearing that a high-rise construction project was erroneously approved, the hiring of outside experts to examine high-risk construction activities is a step in the right direction.

All construction is difficult and dangerous. DOB needs to remain vigilant in its inspections of all construction operations. The protocols and standards of these operations and the frequency and substance of inspections are all fertile ground for improvement. However, the best way to restore the public’s trust in the Agency and ensure that all who live and work around construction sites are as safe as possible is to hire an adequate force of well-trained, professional inspectors.

The Council will continue to conduct close oversight of DOB and looks forward to hearing more details about this initiative at our next construction site safety hearing on May 6. We stand ready to legislate where the findings are justified and eagerly await reports from this new team of engineering experts.

Bing: Lancaster the 'Isiah Thomas of City Government'

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:04:07 -0400

So, there have been calls for Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster's resignation since the crane collapse last month. It finally happened today, and Assemblyman Jonathan Bing thinks that's because there is an assembly hearing on the subject this Thursday.

"I was going to delve very deeply into the issue of why a building was built that caused the crane collapse, without proper permits,” Bing says.

Either way, Lancaster had to go, Bing thinks. “I think she became the Isiah Thomas of city government," he said. "And, really, regardless of her sincerity and interest in doing a good job, it was a necessary step.”

Bing is sponsoring, along with Republican State Senator Andrew Lanza, a bill which would penalize building inspectors who file false information.

Overseeing the Building’s Department now is Robert LiMandri, first deputy buildings commissioner, who has agreed to stay on until a replacement is named.

Buildings Commissioner Lancaster Felled by Criticism After High-Profile Construction Accidents

Eliot Brown — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:12:12 -0400

The city’s commissioner of the Department of Buildings, Patricia Lancaster, today resigned from her post, more than five weeks after a major Upper East Side crane collapse killed seven people.

Ms. Lancaster, credited with overhauling and cleaning up a department noted for corruption, led numerous efforts to modernize the regulatory agency and increase penalties for developers as the amount of construction in the city soared.

But in the end, the building boom proved to be her undoing, as a number of high-profile deaths at construction sites in recent months brought on piles of public attention and numerous calls by lawmakers for her resignation.

Garnering the most attention was the crane collapse on East 51^st Street, and last week, Ms. Lancaster acknowledged that the building of that size should never have been approved in the first place for that site.

Critics have charged that the Department of Buildings cannot handle the high level of construction in the city, allowing developers to cut corners at the expense of safety. The Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, has let loose a constant stream of scathing statements about the city’s management of the construction industry, as have a number of other local legislators.

The criticism seemed to prove too much for Mayor Bloomberg, who initially stood by Ms. Lancaster after the crane collapse, and rarely buckles to public pressure to oust his staff.

Statement from the mayor's office below.

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF BUILDINGS COMMISSIONER PATRICIA J. LANCASTER

Statement by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg:

“This morning, I met with Patricia Lancaster at Gracie Mansion and accepted her resignation as New York City’s Buildings Commissioner. Over the past six years, Patricia has moved the Department of Buildings a long way forward by fighting corruption, strengthening inspections and oversight, increasing the public’s access to information, and bringing increased levels of professionalism and integrity to all levels of her agency. Patricia led a comprehensive overhaul of the City’s byzantine building code, the first in 40 years, which will make the construction of homes, schools, stores and offices in New York City safer, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly for years to come. Patricia leaves a strong foundation of reform and improvement for her successors to build on, and I thank her for her dedication to making New York City a far better place to live, work, and visit.”

Statement by Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster:

“Today I submitted my resignation, which Mayor Bloomberg accepted. It has been an honor serving in his Administration and I thank the Mayor for this opportunity. After six years in public service, I made this decision because I felt it was time to return to the private sector. I am proud of the groundbreaking work the department has done during my tenure to root out corruption, increase transparency, overhaul the building code, and increase safety for workers and the public alike. My message today to the talented and capable staff at the Department of Buildings is to keep up the hard work: you’ve made so much important progress. It has been my distinct pleasure working with you.”

Oddo: Replacing Buildings Commissioner Isn't Enough

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:51:49 -0400

City Councilman Jimmy Oddo, who has been critical of the city's Department of Buildings for years, said that getting rid of the commissioner, as Michael Bloomberg just did, should just be the beginning.

“You can replace [Commissioner] Patricia Lancaster with the most talented person in the world, and if you don’t provide this department with resources to put boots on the ground, you’ll have the same results for the last couple of years,” Oddo said.

“Just changing commissioners without giving it additional resources is not enough. And that’s coming from me. I’m not a guy who believes in throwing money at a problem."

Oddo acknowledged the agency has had a slight increase in funding and manpower, but said, “Now, juxtapose that with the level of growth we’ve had over the last six years, and I say it’s not enough.”

Lancaster Out as DOB Commissioner

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:14:43 -0400

Patricia Lancaster is out as the commissioner for the city's Department of Buildings.

Michael Bloomberg announced her departure in a statement just now.

From Bloomberg:

Statement by Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster:

Six Cranes Shut Down for Safety Violations

Eliot Brown — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:53:17 -0400

Inspectors found safety violations on six tower cranes--those giant cranes attached to area skyscrapers--after searching all 29 currently in use citywide, the Department of Buildings announced today.

The six cranes, with another two registering administrative violations, were temporarily shut down until the errors were corrected.

Following last month’s fatal crane accident on East 51^st Street, DOB did a sweep of all the tower cranes in the city, and is now looking at mobile cranes, of which there are 220.

Release Below.

BUILDINGS COMMISSIONER PATRICIA LANCASTER ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF CITYWIDE TOWER CRANE SAFETY INSPECTIONS

Tower Cranes Citywide Evaluated for Code Compliance

Buildings Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster, FAIA, today announced the completion of the Buildings Department’s citywide safety inspection sweep of tower cranes, the type of crane involved in the March 15th collapse at 303 East 51st Street in Manhattan. The results of the safety inspection sweep, launched days after the crane collapse, show that 21 of 29 tower cranes installed and in use throughout the five boroughs passed inspection and are in compliance with regulations. The eight tower cranes issued violations were immediately shut down and remained out of operation until the violations were corrected. Violations for seven of the tower cranes have been corrected, and one of the tower cranes issued a Stop Work Order remains shut down by the Department.

“The public can rest assured that the majority of the tower cranes did pass inspection, but our inspectors uncovered eight tower cranes with unacceptable violations. The Buildings Department shut down these cranes and required the individuals responsible to immediately address the violating conditions,” said Commissioner Lancaster. “Cranes that are found to have unsafe violating conditions will not be permitted to operate.”

Inspection Sweep Results Show Majority of Tower Cranes Passed Inspection

Since the safety inspection sweep was announced on March 20, all tower cranes installed and in use citywide have been inspected and evaluated for structural deficiencies. A total of 29 tower cranes were inspected at 26 construction sites. Each tower crane inspection lasted an average of four hours and included a visual review of the crane’s structure to determine whether it was installed and secured to the building according to the approved engineering plans. Additionally, Buildings inspectors visually inspected the cranes’ parts and tested the functionality of each structure, which included a review of boom, load, and swing functions. Buildings inspectors also tested the safety devices, such as audible and visual warning signals, anti-two block devices, and boom hoist safety shut-offs on the tower cranes to determine whether they were working properly.

Of the 29 tower cranes inspected, 21 of the cranes passed inspection, meaning that these cranes were installed in accordance with engineered plans approved by the Buildings Department and were functioning safely at the time of inspection. Buildings inspectors issued Stop Work Orders to eight tower cranes. Of the tower cranes that were shut down by the Department, two had administrative violations, such as not having the proper paperwork available on site at the time of inspection, and six had safety-related violations, including broken decelerators, missing pins, and conditions contrary to the engineered plans.

Citywide Inspection Safety Sweep for Mobile Cranes Launched

Upon completion of the inspection of the 29 tower cranes in operation, the Buildings Department began a safety inspection sweep of approximately 220 mobile cranes throughout the five boroughs on April 14. Unlike the type of crane involved in the accident at 303 East 51st Street, which is assembled on the job site and made up of stacked tower mast sections, mobile cranes are pre-built structures that require no assembly to operate. Commonly used to build or deconstruct buildings and other structures, including tower cranes, mobile cranes are often smaller in size. At this time, the Department has inspected five mobile cranes and issued one Stop Work Order and one violation during the safety inspection sweep. Mobile cranes that do not comply with existing safety and building regulations will be immediately shut down and removed from use. The Commissioner announced today that the mobile crane safety inspection sweep will be complete by May 31, 2008.

Since 2002, the Buildings Department has worked aggressively to improve transparency and infuse integrity and accountability into the construction process. With new proactive enforcement models being utilized by the Stop Work Order Patrol, the Excavations Team, and the Buildings Enforcement Safety Team, Buildings inspectors are conducting more proactive inspections of construction activity across the five boroughs than at any poi
nt in the Department’s history. Building on this progress, the Department’s Special Enforcement Plan, launched in July 2007, will further the Department’s mission of furthering the safe and lawful use of all of New York City’s 975,000 buildings and properties.

New Yorkers are encouraged to call 3-1-1 to report non-compliant conditions or 9-1-1 to report emergencies at construction sites.

Krueger Wants Building Commissioner to Go

Azi Paybarah — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:13:55 -0400

State Senator Liz Krueger wants the city’s commissioner at the Department of Buildings to step down following the deadly crane accident last week.

Krueger, who represents the Upper East Side, said in a public statement just now, “The problems at the DOB are systemic, and exist from top to bottom. The first step that must be taken now is for DOB Commissioner Patricia Lancaster to step down.”

The Buildings Department inspector who admitted to falsifying documents that said he had inspected the crane was arrested yesterday.

Here is the full statement from Krueger:

"The purpose of having the Department of Buildings (DOB) is to make sure that the buildings in our City, both under construction and those already standing, are structurally safe, sound and meeting legal standards. The DOB has failed miserably in meeting its mission. The increasing frequency of construction site accidents, as well as yesterday's report that an inspector at the agency was falsifying reports, is very alarming."

"Last week's crane accident on the Eastside, which cost seven lives, is the latest in a string of incidents that prove the DOB is operating without the leadership needed to make the kind of changes needed in order to protect workers and residents."

"The problems at the DOB are systemic, and exist from top to bottom. The first step that must be taken now is for DOB Commissioner Patricia Lancaster to step down. I do not recall a time that I have called for a resignation since I was elected to office, and do not take this lightly. However, her resistance to enact real change following any of
the previous incidents which resulted in unnecessary deaths, has made it all too clear that the agency cannot be fixed while she is in charge."

City Employee Arrested in Wake of Crane Collapse

Eliot Brown — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:55:36 -0400

An inspector from the Department of Buildings was arrested today following last weekend’s fatal crane collapse for falsifying an inspection, though city officials said his actions likely did not lead to the accident.

Edward Marquette was charged with falsifying business records, a felony, after he admitted he lied on paperwork and did not make a March 4 inspection of the crane, according to the city. However, the crane was inspected after March 4, including the day before the March 15 collapse, and in a statement, Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said “it is unlikely that a March 4 inspection would have prevented this horrific accident.”

Release below:

CITY ARRESTS DOB CRANE INSPECTOR FOR FALSIFYING INSPECTION ROUTE SHEET

-- Inspector Allegedly Falsely Claimed he Inspected East 51^st Crane on March 4, 2008 --

ROSE GILL HEARN, Commissioner of the Department of Investigation (DOI), today announced the felony arrest of EDWARD J. MARQUETTE, a DOB Inspector assigned to DOB’s Division of Cranes and Derricks, for allegedly making a false entry in his Inspector’s Route Sheet for March 4, 2008, falsely indicating that he performed an inspection of the crane located at 303 East 51^st Street, Manhattan. On March 15, 2008, this crane collapsed causing the death of seven individuals. MARQUETTE is being prosecuted by the New York District Attorney’s Office. PATRICIA J. LANCASTER, Commissioner of the Department of Buildings (DOB), whose office assisted DOI with this investigation, joins Commissioner Gill Hearn in this announcement.

MARQUETTE, 46, of Manhattan is charged with violating New York State Penal Law Sections 175.10, Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, and 175.35, Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, both class E felonies. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison. MARQUETTE joined DOB as an Inspector on October 29, 2001. His annual salary is $52,283.

DOI began its investigation of the March 15^th fatal crane accident immediately after the accident occurred. As part of the investigation, DOI began gathering all of the relevant documents relating to, among other things, prior DOB inspections of the East 51^st Street crane. DOB’s records indicated that on March 4, 2008, DOB received a complaint from a citizen who said that the East 51^st Street crane did not appear to be properly braced to the building. The complainant further said that the upper portion of the crane appeared unsecured. DOB records indicated that on March 4, 2008, DOB responded to this complaint, specifically by an inspection conducted that day by MARQUETTE and that two days later, on March 6, 2008, the complaint was disposed of with no violation warranted based upon MARQUETTE’s March 4 inspection, which reportedly revealed that the crane was erected according to the DOB-approved plans. DOB has confirmed that an inspection of the crane did take place on March 14, 2008, the day before the collapse.

On March 16, 2008, the day after the fatal accident, investigators first interviewed MARQUETTE and obtained a copy of his Inspector’s Route Sheet for March 4, 2008. During the March 16 interview, MARQUETTE informed investigators that he had conducted the March 4 inspection of the East 51^st Street Crane and that his inspection revealed no problems with the crane.

On March 19, 2008, based upon information developed by DOI that cast doubt upon whether MARQUETTE had actually performed the March 4^th inspection, he was again interviewed by DOI. During that interview, MARQUETTE admitted to DOI investigators that he had not in fact conducted the March 4^th inspection. On March 19^th, DOI also obtained the original copy of MARQUETTE’s March 4^th Route Sheet. DOI’s examination revealed that the Route Sheet had been tampered with to indicate that the inspection had been conducted by MARQUETTE. Upon questioning by DOI investigators, MARQUETTE admitted that he had falsified the Route Sheet.

DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said, “Crane inspectors are entrusted by the City with ensuring that cranes are operated in a way that does not compromise the safety of construction workers or the public. This inspector allegedly betrayed that trust at the most fundamental level by not doing an inspection assigned to him and then making a false record indicating that he did. By responding quickly and forcefully in this case, DOI is making it clear that this kind of dishonesty by a City employee will not be tolerated.”

DOB Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster said, “Based on the preliminary findings of the ongoing investigation, it is unlikely that a March 4^th inspection would have prevented this horrific accident, which we continue to believe was caused by human or mechanical error during the crane jumping operation on March 15^th. Regardless, Edward Marquette’s behavior is reprehensible. Today I suspended Edward Marquette and I support the most aggressive prosecution possible. The Buildings Department will not tolerate misconduct of any kind. Employees found to have acted inappropriately will be disciplined to the full extent of the law, as has been done according to the Department’s Code of Conduct, issued for the first time in the agency's history in 2004 and enforced aggressively since then. I applaud DOI's swift action in bringing charges against this individual."

Commissioner Lancaster added the following points:

“Crane inspectors are responsible for inspecting and testing cranes to ensure the public will be protected during construction in our dense urban environment. To address the understandable public concern light of this arrest, I have:

Ordered an immediate re-inspection of 100% of the cranes inspected by Edward Marquette over the last six months.

Requested the Department of Investigation (DOI) to investigate 100% of Edward Marquette's inspection reports over the last six months. DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn has pledged her full cooperation, continuing our partnership to eliminate corruption within the Buildings Department and the construction industry.

Requested the Department of Investigation to conduct a thorough review of the Cranes & Derricks Unit procedures and personnel for further recommendations.

Re-distributed to the Department’s 1,300 employees the Code of Conduct – our ethical code for professional behavior - to enforce the strict standards and zero-tolerance policy I have set for Buildings staff and the construction industry.

Launched a full operational review of the Cranes & Derricks Unit and ordered crane applications and associated documents be incorporated into the Department's online database for added transparency.

Since 2002, when I made it my top priority to infuse integrity into the Buildings Department, we have made great strides in eliminating corrupt and criminal activities. The arrest serves as a critical message to our inspectors: you serve on the front line to protect the public by enforcing safety standards and a failure to do so on your part can result in serious consequences."

The investigation was conducted by Michael Carroll, DOI’s Inspector General for DOB, and members of his staff, including Deputy Inspector General Edward Zinser and Chief Investigator Byron Biggerstaff, under the direction of DOI Associate Commissioner John B. Kantor. The Buildings Special Investigations Unit assisted with the investigation. Commissioner Gill Hearn thanked Commissioner Lancaster for her office’s cooperation.

The office of New York County District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau is prosecuting the case, which is assigned to Assistant District Attorney Sean Sullivan.

DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country. The agency investigates and refers for prosecution City employees and contractors engaged in corrupt or fraudulent activities or unethical conduct. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City.

Seventh Death In Crane Collapse

Lysandra Ohrstrom — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:51:43 -0400

A seventh body was recovered at the site of Saturday's crane collapse, the AP reported this afternoon.

All of the casualties from the 19-story crane's collapse on Saturday were construction workers at the site, except for one woman visiting a friend in a nearby townhouse to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The NYPD released on Sunday the names of four men who were killed in the accident: Wayne Bleidner, 51, of Pelham; Brad Cohen, 54, of Farmingdale; Anthony Mazza, 39; and Aaron Stephens, 45, of New York City. The identities of the three others discovered are not available yet.