BREAKING: Worker Killed at Forte Condos Site
On Monday, we reported a tip we got about a bunch of fire trucks showing up at the Forte Condo site and rumor of an injured worker. We are sad to report that we just received word that one worker was, in fact, killed. John Martinez, 46, fell three floors to his death at 9:19…
On Monday, we reported a tip we got about a bunch of fire trucks showing up at the Forte Condo site and rumor of an injured worker. We are sad to report that we just received word that one worker was, in fact, killed. John Martinez, 46, fell three floors to his death at 9:19 a.m. on February 5. A Partial Stop Work Order that has been put in place states that there was “no protection in hoist area on ground floor. Door openings at hoist not secured.” As we understand, work is being allowed to continue on the lower floors. Very sad indeed.
Forte Condos Get Glass — and Firetrucks [Brownstoner] GMAP
first — i’m very sad for that man’s family.
every day I walk by the construction site and the crew is friendly.
The thought in the back of my mind is of the scaffolding being a little unsafe but I figured if the workers aren’t scared — why should I be?
I’m going to walk across the street from now own.
I am surprised this happened at a union job. They make such a big point of saying they are using union labor in their sales pitch and saying how great the construction is. Makes you wonder what they mean by that. Does the union have any kind of oversight on jobs like this or are they just exploited and paid off in some way to shut up when they see these kinds of violations? The harness rules came up recently on another job and the DOB made a big point of saying they were going to enforce the permits needed for this kind of work. Certainly developers can blow these things off and do, but doesn’t being in a union get the workers able to enforce safety issues on site?
Terrible tragedy. Construction is dangerous, there is no question about it. It is the responsibility of the Construction Manager or General Contractor to ensure a safe environment. People need to stop pointing the finger at the building department. Point the finger at the developer. I am a developer and take safety very seriously. There is a cost of doing business and I will pay that cost.
Just last week Commissioner Lancaster said:
“I am happy to report that the Buildings Department has been able to satisfy the demand for permits”
How bout the demand for Safe and Compliant Construction, Ms Lancaster?
I am compelled to reprint a note that I have posted and sent to every Elected official, at least 10 times in the last 2 years and still we have the same situation being encouraged by our City Officials:
How many more have to die or get maimed before something is done to stop the insanity in the name of Development.
Another worker died yesterday, on one of the many illegal developments being allowed, indeed encouraged by our City and the DOB. In fact in yesterday’s paper there was an article stating that the 2nd most deaths, in the last year, in this City, were on construction sites. Number one was murder. These so called construction deaths should be reclassified as premeditated, Murder. The people who are running these sites know, full well, what they are doing and they know that what they are doing is illegal and a threat to everyone that lives or works anywhere near these sites. Furthermore they are quite aware of the damage they are doing to the communities and surrounding homes and infrastructure. Most importantly they know that the people {DOB, DEP OSHA, etc.,}, who we, the tax payers, pay to protect us from these atrocities, will not do what they are paid to do. Unless of course Mr.’s Katan, Radufsky, Scarranno, Guttman etc. ask for some action to be taken.
Calls are made for blatant illegalities. Work with out permits, work before and after hours, work on weekends with no variance, illegal lead and asbestos abatement’s, illegal demolition, unsafe work conditions, dust, noise, threats to neighbors, working through stop work orders. The list is endless. The common thread was that they were filed by taxpaying citizens, against billionaire developers and nothing was done to stop them.
A long time ago I said that many in the community believe that someone is being paid off. One City official said to me “Can you prove it?†I said “When I was 6 years old I was taught that 2 + 2 = 4, all these years later that still hasn’t’t changed.â€
The people of this city deserve some answers:
Why does it take months sometimes years to get a response from DOB for many hundreds of calls complaining of the illegal practices of Billionaire Developers, and yet only days to respond to 2 complaints against a small home owner? Why is it that if and when DOB respond to the complaints against Developers the response if lackadaisical and half hearted, yet when responding to a complaint against a small home owner the response is Immediate, Aggressive, Threatening, and Relentless? 2 + 2 still equals 4.
Who will pay the bills when all the taxpayers and working class are run out of the City? Not Mr.’s Katan, Radufsky, Scarranno et al.
I wish there was some way we could all look out for safety when viewing these sites. I have seen such dangerous looking conditions on many sites around town, but calls to 311 seem to go nowhere. Plus it’s hard to tell what just looks unsafe and what actually is unsafe. One time we saw beams falling off a 3rd or 4th floor on the site on 1st St. just off 4th Ave. Very scary! Nobody was walking by but us so nobody even noticed. we called 311, but I’m sure they did nothing.
I don’t think there is any difference, sorrow for the person and his family, disgust with those who allow it to happen.
where are all the posters who were so “outraged” and “disgusted” that the synagogue on Kent ave. was allowed to resume work after a worker was injured?
I guess if there are no Hasidim involved, then they don’t give a shit.
I am so sorry.
As we understand, work is being allowed to continue on the lower floors. — I guess the show must go on ..sigh.