June 9th - June 13th, 2008

Delay in 130 Liberty Fire Lawsuit Requested

June 7 – Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is asking a judge to delay a lawsuit filed in connection with the deadly fire at the Deutsche Bank last August. Morgenthau says his investigators need more time to decide whether criminal charges will be brought in the case and the lawsuit could interfere with their investigation. Relatives of the two firefighters killed in the fire are suing the contractors and government agencies responsible for the building.

Governor Calls for Investigation

June 8 – Governor Paterson is calling for a full investigation into how crane operators are licensed and how cranes are inspected. The call came a day after the City’s top crane inspector, James Delayo, was arrested on bribery charges. The Buildings Department has launched an investigation of all licenses in which Delayo may have been involved.

New York Second to London

June 9 – For the second year in a row, New York City ranked second to London in the MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index. That study evaluates the role of the world’s leading cities in connecting markets and driving global commerce. New York and Chicago were the only American cities in the top 10; Los Angeles dropped to 17^th place.

AIG to Sublease Space

June 9 – AIG confirmed that it will sublease 800,000 square feet from Goldman Sachs at 180 Maiden Lane. The New York Post also reports that AIG won’t be selling its headquarters tower at 70 Pine Street; earlier reports speculated that the building would be converted to residential use. 

Safety Rally Set for June 21

June 11 – The father of firefighter Joseph Graffagnino, who died fighting a fire in the Deutsche bank building last August, will lead a rally on June 21^st calling for improved safety at construction sites. The Daily News reports the procession will start at 10 a.m. outside the Deutsche bank building on Liberty Street and go to City Hall. Graffagnino has reached out to construction workers, civil service unions and firefighters to join in the rally.

Fire Code Crackdown

June 11- The City announced 107 people have been arrested since June 2 for failing to answer outstanding fire code violations. Rose Gill Hearn, Commissioner of the Department of Investigation said, “We are going to keep going until the problem is solved by people coming in and addressing their violations and knowing that they can’t ignore these.” Building and business owners have been cited for failing to maintain a standpipe or sprinkler system, blocking exits, illegally storing propane and having no fire extinguishers.