Is Your Home The Next Seaside Heights Inferno?

How many people have to die before the Building Code gets enforced around here?

September 18, 2013 

City Of Long Beach

Building Department

One West Chester  Street

Long Beach, NY 11561

Attn:  Scott Kemins – Building Commissioner

 Via email and Certified Mail

Dear Scott:

I assume that you have seen the news that the massive boardwalk fire in Seaside Heights, NJ, has officially been determined to be caused by electrical wiring damaged by floodwaters during  Sandy.   If you have not, here’s a link: http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2013/09/seaside_boardwalk_fire_cause_investigation.html

You have also been provided with copies of the New York Department of State Division of Code Enforcement’s Technical Bulletin regarding flood damaged wiring.  An additional copy is provided here: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/pio/alert/documents/DOS%20-%20Electrical%20Systems%20and%20Equipment%20-%20Flood%20Damaged%20Structures.pdf

As you know, Schneider Construction operated in ((REDACTED)) Condominium without permits for 9 months - from the time Sandy inundated the first floor with contaminated seawater until July of this year.  As you also know, Schneider’s appointed electrical inspector has not been asked to perform inspections of the apartments thusly affected or the common areas.  I privately engaged an electrician whose appointed, City-approved electrical inspector reported  water-damaged wiring and junction boxes in the walls of my first floor apartment.  You have been in possession of a copy of this report for some time now.

As you also are aware, the Building Code empowers you to order electrical inspections either verbally or in writing.  Since Schneider and his electrician seem disinclined to do so, I am requesting once again that you order such inspections. 

I understand that you are also the Fire Commissioner.  As such, I must assume that you are aware of the potential property damage, injury and loss of life that can be the product of faulty wiring. 

What I do not understand is why you and City Manager Jack Schnirman are not taking this seriously enough to do something about it.  If your conscience isn’t a sufficient guide as to how to address this problem, perhaps Corporation Counsel can advise you what your personal liability and the City’s liability will be in the event of an electrical fire that destroys homes and lives.  Your failure to act in your official capacity as Building Commissioner is appalling.

I have been displaced from my home for 10 and half months.  I want to go home.  I think I have the right to expect that City government officials will enforce the Building Codes that are in place in order to see to it that both I and all my neighbors are safe when we do.  The lack of electrical inspections is putting all of us in immediate danger.

Please advise me, in writing, how you plan to proceed to correct this immediate and urgent problem.

Sincerely,
((REDACTED))

Cc: Courtney W. Nation, P.E.

Regional Engineer

Department of State

Division of Code Enforcement and Administration

Long Island Regional Office

250 Veterans Memorial Highway, 2nd Floor

Hauppauge, NY  11788