7/7/26 Manhattan Collapse Box 790

[captaindewey50267021@gm]

I am sure that the FDNY had no part in either the Permits for or the inspection of this building. Yes, FDNY looks at buildings under construction but in only involves compliance with existing laws. If any question of construction is disclosed during FDNY inspection, a Battalion Chief is called to the scene, and a Priority A-8 form is sent to the NYC Building Department. I my over 30 years in the FDNY, mostly in Manhattan, I never saw anyone ever take a bribe. I can only state that unlike the Building Department if something goes wrong we the firefighters are the only ones in the building, searching and saving lives, not the building department. We do NOT put our own brothers and sisters and ourselves in danger.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired

 

[jjooee]

In the 65 years I've been following things in the fire service, almost every episode of Fire Department corruption in the United States has revolved around inspection/ permit issues. It is NOT ineptitude, it is uniformed employees taking the bribe and looking the other way. NYC Building inspectors are no different.

FYI - NYC DOB is not like others: these aren't professionals, like engineers and/or experienced tradesmen, they're civil servants that have a checklist they follow. For example, a friend of mine worked for DOB, prior experience was an auto mechanic. Architects self certify their plans. So, in all likelihood, there are no uniformed members to bribe with this. If this was about missing no smoking signs, or the permit was 3 inches to low, then this could be about the DOB, but this is not that.

They're putting, in simple terms, a new high rise building on top of an existing high rise building. Was adding additional structural support part of the design - from the existing roof down to bedrock? Was there some kind of willful ignorance by the city? Since they're converting vacant commercial space (fleeing desirable tenants) to residential low income housing (fill in the blank), perhaps all the city cares about is the number of housing units to give away, pesky plans be damned.

 

[CT Buff]

FYI - NYC DOB is not like others: these aren't professionals, like engineers and/or experienced tradesmen, they're civil servants that have a checklist they follow. For example, a friend of mine worked for DOB, prior experience was an auto mechanic. Architects self certify their plans. So, in all likelihood, there are no uniformed members to bribe with this. If this was about missing no smoking signs, or the permit was 3 inches to low, then this could be about the DOB, but this is not that.

They're putting, in simple terms, a new high rise building on top of an existing high rise building. Was adding additional structural support part of the design - from the existing roof down to bedrock? Was there some kind of willful ignorance by the city? Since they're converting vacant commercial space (fleeing desirable tenants) to residential low income housing (fill in the blank), perhaps all the city cares about is the number of housing units to give away, pesky plans be damned.

But is NYC really an outlier in the way construction engineering is managed? Seems from a brief check that most large US municipalities rely on developers self-verifying and only do code enforcement. I think that will become apparent as the investigation ensues.