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Deutsche Bank Contractors Hired Despite Warning

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Aug 26, 2007 11:27 pm US/Eastern

Deutsche Bank Contractors Hired Despite Warning

Slideshow: The World Trade Center Remembered

WCBSTV.com's 9/11 Special Report

By Elizabeth Hur, CBS 2 News
NEW YORK (CBS) ― Disturbing details continue to emerge as the investigations into the Deutsche Bank building fire deepens. The sub-contractor hired to head up the deconstruction work may not have been fit for the job.

According to the New York Times, the John Galt Corporation that was fired this week, should not have been hired in the first place.

"This is news to me," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "I think this is news to the firefighters."

Firefighters who ran into the burning building to fulfill their duties and in the process, lost two of their brothers.

The Deutsche Bank building's owner was cautioned to stay away from the John Galt corporation by the City's Department Of Investigation. According to the Times, the agency felt uneasy because the company "was something of an arranged marriage between [a businessman accused of having mob ties] and a scaffolding company that had no experience tearing down skyscrapers."

"It is very troubling and it is a very serious situation," said Stringer. "Why did we have to lose two firefighters in a total unmitigated disaster?"

The families of Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia are still grieving, but their communities vow to stand by them.

"The larger family, the parish, we're there to support them in any way that we can," said Father Donald Berran, of St. Ephrem's Church. "They know that and that's a great comfort to them."

"The relatives, the widow, the people who lost their loved ones, they need answers first and foremost," said Stringer.

The Manhattan Borough President says someone needs to step up and start answering questions. At least one group who had been tight lipped until now have accepted that challenge.

In a letter, the president of Bovis Lend Lease, the company overseeing the project agreed to meet with concerned residents later this week.

The date and time have not been set for the meeting with Bovis Lend Lease executives, but residents with concerns are encouraged to attend as the meeting will be open to the public.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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