NEWS: City Council Criminalizes Illegal Demolition
From Aaron Brashear–Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Hts. [email protected]
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/nyregion/16mbrfs-MANHATTANCUR_BRF.html
Finally we see some movement forward on legislation “originally” suggested in original legislature introduced by CM Avella in the past few sessions. But, regardless of how it came about, we now have more culpability for demo without permits and higher penalties for working against SWOs.
Now, will DOB be able to enforce these new laws? Different story…
Can’t help to think that all of the activism against illegal construction and advocacy for reforms from our groups and others throughout the CIty helped make this happen, even in a small way 🙂
Full briefing from the NYT below. Congrats to CM Recchia and CM Gentile (and CM Avella, though the back corridor).
Aaron
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NY Times
November 16, 2006
Manhattan: Curbing Illegal Construction
By SEWELL CHAN
The City Council approved two bills yesterday to crack down on construction companies that do illegal work. One bill, sponsored by Councilman Domenic M. Recchia Jr. of Brooklyn, makes demolishing a one- or two-family home without a required permit a misdemeanor, with violators subject to fines or jail time as well as civil penalties. The other bill, by Councilman Vincent J. Gentile of Brooklyn, increases the
penalties for contractors who defy Buildings Department stop-work orders.