news
July 16, 2008
Ed Stier’s Comments Featured in New York Times Coverage of Corruption and Incompetence in the New York City’s Crane Industry
In The New York Times article "Tales of Incompetence And Corruption Haunt Crane Work in City" (link to article), Thacher Associates principal Ed Stier comments on how corruption could have been a contributing factor in two recent crane accidents that caused the deaths of nine people. Cranes toppled from building sites in Manhattan on March 15 and May 30, 2008. The accidents are still under investigation.
"The petty corruption that has been endemic in New York construction can create an atmosphere that is incompatible with high standards of safety and quality," Mr. Stier was quoted as saying. The Times sought Mr. Stier's comments due to his decades-long experience auditing major construction projects.
The article goes on to describe mob influence in the unions that supply crane operators, lapses in the licensing process for the operators, and scandals in the City Buildings Department that inspects the cranes and processes the licenses.
