“The next two bills before me increase penalties against those who perform construction work on properties in violation of the law.  Introductory number 132-A sponsored by Council Members Recchia, Fidler, Foster, Gentile, Koppell, Gonzalez, Vallone, Dickens, White, Sears, Weprin, Sanders, Barron, Monserrate, Katz, Martinez, McMahon, Nelson, Liu, Brewer, Jackson, Vacca, Garodnick, Gennaro, Seabrook, de Blasio, Oddo and Gallagher establishes additional criminal and civil penalties for those performing demolition work without a permit on one or two-family dwellings.

“In order to demolish any building in the City one must receive a permit issued by the Department of Buildings.  While most individuals and businesses comply with the law there are those who abuse the system by working without the required permit.

“Introductory number 132-A increases the penalties for demolition work without a permit on one or two-family dwellings by treating the offense as a misdemeanor, punishable by a minimum fine of $5,000 and a maximum of $10,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both.  Those performing work without a permit are also subject to a minimum civil penalty of $5,000 and a maximum of $10,000.

“Introductory Number 216-A, sponsored by Council Members Gentile, Addabbo, Brewer, Fidler, Foster, Gonzalez, Koppell, Vallone, McMahon, Dickens, Sanders, Sears, Katz, Liu, Monserrate, Gennaro, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Vacca, Weprin, White, Nelson, Jackson, Recchia, Garodnick, Mendez, Seabrook, de Blasio, Lanza, Oddo, Gallagher and the Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum increases the penalty for failing to comply with a stop work order and increases civil penalties for performing construction work without a permit.

“The Department of Buildings can issue a stop work order at any time building work is being performed in a dangerous or unsafe manner, or is otherwise in violation of the law or a Department regulation.  While most individuals and businesses generally comply with the law, there are instances where some abuse the system by working after a stop work order has been issued.

“Introductory Number 216-A increases the penalties for work in violation of a stop work order through a new penalty structure.  For the first violation offenders will be assessed a $2,000, for the second violation a $5,000 fine and for the third and subsequent violations, a $10,000 fine will be assessed.  As an alternative offenders can be subject to a minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $15,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months or both.  Finally, for work performed without a permit on one and two-family dwellings, the penalty is being increased to four times the permit fee and not less than $500, and for work performed without a permit on all other structures, the penalty is being increased to 14 times the permit fee and not less than $5,000.

“Increasing penalties for work without a building permit and work performed in violation of a stop work order will help us to ensure the safety of work sites and preserve the character of our communities.

“I would like to thank Department of Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster and her staff for their work on these two pieces of legislation.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving these bills.”