Stand for Tenant Safety (STS) echoes the remarks of the tenants formerly of 123 2nd Ave (which infamously exploded last year due to an illegally installed gas line, killing 2 tenants) when they called out New York City for relying on "an illogical and antiquated system of enforcement, inspections, and reliable self-certification." Indeed, the failure of the Department of Buildings to enforce building codes and laws endangers the health, safety, and well-being of NYC tenants daily. Although this case is particularly tragic, the gas explosion at 121 2nd Ave is just one example of the citywide problem of landlords using construction as harassment.

The explosion could have been prevented with stronger legislation to crack down on illegal construction. STS has a package of 12 bills to do just that, and we call on our City Council members to pass these bills to change the culture of reckless construction in occupied buildings.

See more details in Monday's NY Post article.