Rooftop cooling towers must be inspected for Legioinella bacteria within two weeks of the building receiving a Department of Health Order issued yesterday. Towers must also be disinfected regardless of whether the bacteria is found. The move comes after an outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease in the Bronx. Mayor de Blasio is expected to announce details of a legislative proposal for cooling tower registration and ongoing maintenance later today. Meanwhile, there are doubts even among testing labs as to whether a two week deadline is manageable.
Earlier in the week, Mayor de Blasio revealed more details of his mandatory inclusionary zoning plan, beginning the City Planning review. It was also reported that he changed his position on ‘double dipping’ by developers so that projects will be able to, say, count the same affordable units to meet the requirements of zoning density bonuses, 421a benefits, tax exempt bond programs, and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.
Two construction companies and their supervising employees were indicted, Wednesday, on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of a worker crushed in a trench without proper supports. The indictment claims the supervisors failed to react promptly or responsibly to warnings by safety inspectors.
If more of your eviction actions seem to be winding up with tenants getting a one-shot grant from the City, it is not your imagination. The Post reports that the Human Resources Administration is spending more than $7 million a month on emergency rent grants, up more than 50 percent since the end of the Bloomberg administration.
ABO update will be on vacation next week. There will be no news, or we will catch up the week after.