City Must Revoke Construction Permit at 350 St. Nicholas Ave
Constadino Sirakis, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Buildings
We demand the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) halt construction
indefinitely at 350 St. Nicholas Ave and revoke the developers’
construction work permit until maximum safety is guaranteed at this site
for all workers and community residents.
350 St. Nicholas Ave is the construction site of developers AB Capstone and Arch Companies where a 17-story luxury tower, branded as “Myrtle Point” (previously Ridgewood Tower), is being built. On Wednesday, April 6th, Holger Molina lost his life at this work site due to unsafe conditions that went unchecked by the city. Despite a previous worker injury on January 19 and a subsequent stop work order, DOB allowed the developers to continue construction a week later after their contractor insurance was renewed.
These injuries and the dozens of construction site deaths within the last two years are not accidents. The city could have prevented these deaths if it had stronger regulations and enforcement mechanisms in place to ensure maximum worker safety and stronger accountability. While DOB has issued a stop worker order after this most recent tragedy, we know that powerful developers like AB Capstone and Arch Companies will continue to evade regulations, placing working class immigrants in unsafe and deadly work environments to maximize profits. Only with stricter enforcement mechanisms in place can we prevent further worker deaths.
It is the job of DOB to inspect and enforce worksite safety. Tenants and workers of Ridgewood, and all of our allies, demand DOB be held accountable for this worksite death and the deaths of other workers we have lost. The Department of Buildings must revoke the construction permit for Ridgewood Towers II LLC and uphold stricter accountability against this and all other developers by:
Thoroughly reviewing construction plans and implementing stringent safety measures at 350 St. Nicholas Ave
Executing a thorough investigation of the contractor to ensure they have a strong safety record
Creating a public document notifying workers and residents of new safety measures and construction plans
Holding a community meeting where workers and residents can learn about the safety protocols and ongoing enforcement of worksite regulations before any new construction permits are approved
Providing a process that is transparent so that all workers and residents in Ridgewood can be informed of all progress for this project
- Increasing the fines for negligent construction employers whose unsafe practices cause worker deaths
No more worker deaths at the hands of developers and the city.
**EN ESPAÑOL**
Exigimos que el Departamento de Edificios de la Ciudad de Nueva York (DOB) detenga la construcción indefinidamente en 350 St. Nicholas Ave y revoque el permiso de trabajo de construcción de los desarrolladores hasta que se garantice la máxima seguridad en este sitio para todos los trabajadores y residentes de la comunidad.
350 St. Nicholas Ave es el sitio de construcción de los desarrolladores AB Capstone y Arch Companies donde se está construyendo una torre de lujo de 17 pisos, denominada como "Myrtle Point" (anteriormente Ridgewood Tower). El miércoles 6 de abril, Holger Molina perdió la vida en este sitio de trabajo debido a condiciones inseguras que no fueron controladas por la ciudad. A pesar de una lesión anterior el 19 de enero de otro trabajador y una orden de suspensión de trabajo posterior, DOB permitió que los desarrolladores continuaran con la construcción una semana después de que se renovara su seguro de contratista.
Estas lesiones y las docenas de muertes en obras de construcción en los últimos dos años no son accidentes. La ciudad podría haber evitado estas muertes si hubiera tenido regulaciones más estrictas y mecanismos de cumplimiento para garantizar la máxima seguridad de los trabajadores y una mayor rendición de cuentas. Aunque DOB emitió una orden de detención de trabajo después de esta tragedia más reciente, sabemos que poderosos desarrolladores como AB Capstone y Arch Companies continuarán evadiendo las regulaciones, colocando a los inmigrantes de la clase trabajadora en ambientes de trabajo inseguros y mortales para maximizar las ganancias. Solo con mecanismos de cumplimiento más estrictos podemos prevenir más muertes de trabajadores.
Es el trabajo de DOB inspeccionar y hacer cumplir la seguridad en el lugar de trabajo. Los inquilinos y trabajadores de Ridgewood, y todos nuestros aliados, exigen que DOB rinda cuentas por esta muerte en el lugar de trabajo y por la muerte de otros trabajadores que hemos perdido. El Departamento de Edificios debe revocar el permiso de construcción de Ridgewood Towers II LLC y mantener una responsabilidad más estricta contra este y todos los demás desarrolladores al:
- Revisar minuciosamente los planes de construcción e implementar medidas de seguridad estrictas en 350 St. Nicholas Ave
- Ejecutar una investigación exhaustiva del contratista para garantizar que tenga un sólido historial de seguridad
- Crear un documento público notificando a los trabajadores y residentes sobre nuevas medidas de seguridad y planes de construcción
- Organice una reunión comunitaria donde los trabajadores y los residentes puedan conocer los protocolos de seguridad y la aplicación continua de las normas del lugar de trabajo antes de que se aprueben nuevos permisos de construcción
- Proporcionar un proceso que sea transparente para que todos los trabajadores y residentes de Ridgewood puedan estar informados de todo el progreso de este proyecto
- Aumentar las multas para los empleadores de construcción negligentes cuyas prácticas inseguras causan la muerte de los trabajadores
No más muertes de trabajadores a manos de los desarrolladores y la ciudad.
Sponsored by
To:
Constadino Sirakis, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Buildings
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Constadino “Gus" Sirakis, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Buildings:
We demand the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) halt construction indefinitely at 350 St. Nicholas Ave and revoke the developers’ construction work permit until maximum safety is guaranteed at this site for all workers and community residents.
350 St. Nicholas Ave is the construction site of developers AB Capstone and Arch Companies where a 17-story luxury tower, branded as “Myrtle Point” (previously Ridgewood Tower), is being built. On Wednesday, April 6th, Holger Molina lost his life at this work site due to unsafe conditions that went unchecked by the city. Despite a previous injury on January 19 and a subsequent stop work order, DOB allowed the developers to continue construction a week later after their contractor insurance was renewed.
These injuries and the dozens of construction site deaths within the last two years are not accidents. The city could have prevented these deaths if it had stronger regulations and enforcement mechanisms in place to ensure maximum worker safety and stronger accountability. While DOB has issued a stop worker order after this most recent tragedy, we know that powerful developers like AB Capstone and Arch Companies will continue to evade regulations, placing working class immigrants in unsafe and deadly work environments to maximize profits.
It is the job of DOB to inspect and enforce worksite safety. Tenants and workers of Ridgewood, and all of our allies, demand DOB be held accountable for this worksite death and the deaths of other workers we have lost. The Department of Buildings must revoke the construction permit for Ridgewood Towers II LLC until they:
- Thoroughly review construction plans and implement stringent safety measures at 350 St. Nicholas Ave
- Execute a thorough investigation of the contractor to ensure they have a strong safety record
- Create a public document notifying workers and residents of new safety measures and construction plans
- Hold a community meeting where workers and residents can learn about the safety protocols and ongoing enforcement of worksite regulations before any new construction permits are approved
- Provide a process that is transparent so that all workers and residents in Ridgewood can be informed of all progress for this project
No more worker deaths at the hands of developers and the city.