Can you say: redundant?
Amidst $25 billion or so in unfunded infrastructure spending, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed one thing in his state of the state speech this week that he can do administratively: create a new Tenant Protection Unit within the Division of Homes and Community Renewal. The unit would proactively investigate owners who may be involved in fraudulent schemes to deregulate apartments, commence overcharge proceedings, and prosecute owners who fail to maintain basic building services.
We also have to note, as sponsors of Buildings/NY, that while NYC needs a bigger convention center, the biggest complaint we hear about the Javits Center from attendees is that it is too far away and hard to get to. Aqueduct?
The Department of Environmental Protection is holding a series of workshops over the next few weeks on online filing under the Community Right to Know law that tracks the use and storage of hazardous materials. Call 718-595-4436 for a schedule and reservations. Residential buildings without commercial or manufacturing tenants are generally exempt, but watch out if you have a dry cleaners.
An Advisory Committee to the Centers for Disease Control recommended this week that the blood lead level considered hazardous to children be lowered, potentially doubling the number of kids considered lead poisoned or at risk. Before it would have any impact here the CDC, NY City Council and Dept. of Health would all have to act, and it’s not clear what they could do. The report noted that investigations already often fail to identify a single source or risk factor for children with low blood lead levels, and the challenge is even greater for lower level exposures . It is also not even clear whether abatement or so-called interim controls have much effect at the low levels being discussed.