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Releases & Statements
Statement from Public Advocate Betsy
Gotbaum
“The safety of Tribeca residents
is at risk and the City may be failing to protect them. Last Friday
I met with staff from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to discuss
my concern for residents, which stems from the storage of diesel
fuel at 60 Hudson Street. DOB just granted a variance to the owners
of 60 Hudson Street, GVA Williams, which allows them to store
more than 275 thousand gallons of fuel on six floors. I’m
calling on the DOB to rescind the variance until the concerns
of the community can be assuaged and the safety of residents guaranteed.
This requires an independent safety analysis and independent oversight
of the implementation of the safety plan. The DOB must also meet
with the local community board and residents.
“While the DOB stated that the
variance will only be granted if GVA Williams complies with certain
safety requirements, I remain apprehensive about GVA’s ability
to satisfy the necessary safety requirements. After all, GVA Williams
stated that a variance was necessary because, according to the
DOB, they had a “practical difficulty in complying with
the Building Code’s regulations.” If they couldn’t
comply then, if they were putting the safety of Tribeca residents
at risk for all these years, how can we be certain that they will
comply now? And, how can we be assured that all the necessary
precautions are being taken to ensure that 60 Hudson Street is
fire proof and, perhaps more importantly, terrorist proof?
“Tribeca is now a residential
neighborhood and facilities like the one at 60 Hudson Street no
longer belong there. Our children, our families and our seniors
shouldn’t have to live with the fear or the risk.”
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