Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
The mayor last week held public hearings for, and signed, 14 pieces of legislation into law.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Bill de Blasio recently signed 14 pieces of legislation into law, including bills that address bedbugs and several proposals pertaining to the City Department of Buildings and construction site safety.
The first bill signed, Intro. 648-A, requires landlords to disclose bedbug infestations in their buildings and provide any tenant signing a lease with bedbug history.
“Bedbug infestations are incredibly grueling experiences, draining tenants and owners of their energy, money and time,” said City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights). “Infestations can be particularly stressful for low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities and others who are already facing physical and financial hardship. The more tenants and owners know, the better prepared they will be to take preventative measures and detect any burgeoning infestation. By requiring owners to disclose a property or apartment’s bedbug infestation history, my bill ensures that all New Yorkers have access to the information they need to protect themselves from these vermin. The bill offers further protection by requiring owners to distribute tenants with information on bedbug prevention, detection and removal. I thank Mayor de Blasio for supporting this important effort that will protect millions of people from these blood-sucking menaces.”
Introduction 965-A requires the City Department of Transportation to create a citywide transit study. In particular, focusing on how to bring increased transit to less well served communities.
“By taking a close look at disconnected communities and thinking about ways to deliver quality transportation services, we can continue to expand opportunity, making a healthier city for all. Intro 965-A is an important step in this process and I look forward to the results of DOT’s study,” said Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan), chairman of the Transportation Committee.
Construction bills that were signed into law include: Intro. 81-A requires DOB to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about Construction Code violations that may endanger workers; Intro. 1433-A requires DOB to list online incidents that have occurred on a construction site; Intro. 1448-A, requires construction superintendents for all major projects at buildings over three stories; Intro. 1421-A requires certain types of complex cranes to have GPS or other locating devices or for DOB to be notified when these cranes are moved on or off a work site; Intro. 1435-A requires certain cranes to be equipped with data-logging equipment to record operations and work conditions; Intro. 1446-A requires Class-B hoisting machine operators to get a license rating to use cranes with a long boom or jib configuration.
“If New York City is going to prevent another 33 construction worker fatalities over the next two years, we need to make sure that the Buildings Department is communicating with OSHA about violations that could jeopardize worker safety. We cannot solve the problem if the left hand is not working together with the right hand,” said Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest).
