JOINT STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHIN
"We would like to offer our prayers for peace and comfort to the family of Juan Chonillo, who was killed on a construction site in Manhattan this morning. His tragic death is another in a series of far too many caused by an eroded culture of safety in the New York City construction industry, which has only gotten worse. No other industry would have been allowed to witness such death without substantive change. Immediate and real action is required."
"The measures before the City Council next week are common sense, essential steps towards beginning to change the culture in the industry. For too long, their safety has been sacrificed for the sake of expediency and profit. This bill would, for the first time ever, mandate a uniformed minimum amount of safety training for all sites across the city, making the protection of workers a priority. Additionally, the fine structure for safety violations will be changed, ensuring that responsibility for such violations, and the tragic consequences they may lead to, is now felt by all, including owners and developers.
"Alarmingly, the construction project in question had already received numerous violations and fines this year, and as recently as yesterday a partial stop work order was issued. This is a clear demonstration that available tools are not sufficient."
"The bill and accompanying funding commitments before the City Council next week are aimed at this instance and all the other workers we have lost. I would like to thank Speaker Mark-Viverito, Council Members Chin and Menchaca, and my other colleagues on the Council for their sponsorship of this bill. It will not only demonstrate our commitment to worker safety as a priority; it will also address the needs of those who cannot afford to pay. It is our sincere hope that this will help prevent future injuries and deaths like the heartbreaking incident we experienced today."
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