Another building collapse, another day in Philly
Latest incident happens on opening day of trial for fatal 22nd and Market collapse
I don’t know about you, but the ‘City of Brotherly Love and Falling Buildings’ is forcing me to wear outrage on my sleeve these days.
On the opening day for the murder trial against a building contractor involved in the 22nd and Market Street Salvation Army building collapse in 2013, a partial collapse in North Philadelphia occurred yesterday at 7th and Cumberland, according to 6 ABC. There were no injuries, and authorities have not yet determined a cause. But even when (or if) they do, would anything change?
City Controller Alan Butkovitz last month held a press conference unveiling continuing and prevalent flaws in building inspections, and called for the resignation of L&I chief Carlton Williams.
According to the Inquirer’s Claudia Vargas, the Controller’s report found:
…seven months after his office sent city officials a list of 100 dangerous properties, some of those properties are still standing and in worse condition than before.
Butkovitz backed up his call for the L&I commissioner’s resignation:
“If you can’t get imminently dangerous buildings torn down in 30 days when you’ve had two years . . . then what are you doing in the department that is worth your stewardship.”
Mayor Nutter stood by Williams, however, citing the the number of buildings inspections that have occurred since the horrific Salvation Army building collapse that killed six people in 2013, and cost one woman her legs.
Then there’s the matter of a deeply flawed computer system known as Hansen. One wonders why (and even how) this became a tool for L&I, seeing as it allows inspectors to edit, and even erase, entries. Butkovitz calls it “chaos.”
Mayoral candidate Jim Kenney says he will replace Williams if he takes the reigns. That would be a good first step, but fumigating the entire agency — including those who drove ‘fascist golf carts’ during the papal visit - would go much further.
