On Tuesday Governor Spitzer vetoed a bill that would have required the DOB to reduce the time it takes to reinspect buildings cited for hazardous conditions. The bill called for reinspections every two months; at present, the DOB’s window for revisiting buildings with outstanding violations can stretch up to four months. Mayor Bloomberg had urged the governor to veto the bill, which was introduced by Assemblyman James Brennan. The mayor said the measure would tax DOB resources, interfere with how owners deal with violations, and potentially cost the city up to $4 million a year. In a press release, Assemblyman Brennan said the mayor’s reasons for opposing the bill were without merit. Brennan noted that the enforcement of the building code has gross shortcomings, and $4 million is a drop in the bucket in light of the city’s $60 billion budget. Unfortunately, many Brooklyn residents—not least, the neighbors of 406 15th Street (above)—have come to know the DOB’s gross shortcomings all too well, and it seems that familiarity may continue for some time now. Was the political opposition purely a matter of the cost of implementation—or could it have something to do with the fact that developers are among the most generous contributors to political campaigns?
Spitzer Vetoes Building Inspection Measure [NY Times]
Video: Lots of Damage, No Control on 15th Street [Brownstoner]