Mar 21, 2008 7:36 pm US/Eastern
NYC Buildings Dept. To Inspect All Crane Sites
Manhattan Residents Worry About Repeat Tragedy
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
In light of last weekend's tragic crane collapse, the buildings department is rushing to inspect all cranes in the city. But as CBS 2 reports, many East Side residents say it's too little too late.
George Zicarelli shakes his head in disbelief when he looks at the devastation outside his East Side apartment window.
A week ago tomorrow, a crane collapsed over his building on 51st and 2nd Avenue, crushing a brownstone on 50th street. Zicarelli and his wife were evacuated immediately, and only last night were they allowed to return, in what they've called a "bitter-sweet homecoming."
"It's depressing. Of course you think of the seven people who died. And a lot of those men had children. And I have to be reminded of it everyday," Zicarelli told CBS 2.
The crane's impact cracked Zicarelli's ceilings and walls. He says he's pleased that building inspector Edward Marquette was arrested and charged with lying about inspecting the ill-fated crane. But he is disappointed it took a tragedy for the city to take notice of the potentially troubling construction sites all over the Manhattan.
"We have to be safe and that's the primary thing for the people of this city, for me, my family and everybody else's family."
The city is now cracking down on cranes and has already shut down at least two construction sites in Lower Manhattan. One site on Murray Street was stopped after inspectors found the crane's operator was not listed on the work permit.
A work stop was also ordered at 123 Washington Street, where inspectors found pins missing at the bottom of its crane.
"It doesn't surprise me. There was a lot of trouble when they were initially erecting it. So we maybe thought it was coming," said neighbor Charles Winters.
Winters lives yards away from the Washington St. site that failed inspection. He says the work stop order gives him very little peace of mind.
"It's relieving. But just because they've stopped it doesn't mean they're bringing the crane down tonight," said Winters. In light of what happened last Saturday, it's a concern that warrants attention.
In addition to suspending Marquette, city building officials ordered an immediate inspection of all cranes he had checked over the last six months.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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