Posted on 07/20/2007 11:15:51 AM PDT by processing please hold
Wednesday's steam pipe explosion happened several blocks away, but judging from recent angry exchanges between city and United Nations officials, if a similar emergency occurs at the U.N. building, rescue efforts are not likely to run nearly as efficiently as they did Wednesday on 41st Street and Lexington Avenue.
Increasingly contentious haggling over issues such as legal jurisdiction and procurement rights have stymied efforts to address hundreds of violations of safety codes discovered at the U.N. building recently, more than 50 years after it was built, U.N. leaders have been slow to address them, frustrating the city's commissioner for the United Nations, Marjorie Tiven, who is Mayor Bloomberg's sister.
Months after fire department officials discovered the violations, the pace at which the United Nations is moving to tighten cooperation between the world body and the FDNY is "unacceptable," Ms. Tiven wrote last week to the U.N. undersecretary-general for management, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra.
Ms. Bárcena, a Mexican national who in January replaced the American Christopher Burnham as management chief, has been unable to act quickly to resolve bureaucratic issues in order to address the code violations, according to several sources familiar with the negotiations between the city and the United Nations. Ms. Bárcena was out of the country yesterday and could not be reached for comment.
The American U.N. mission — at times frustrated with the U.N.'s bureaucratic trip wires that prevent quick action — has tried to work with both sides to overcome issues relating, among others, to the "host country agreement" under which the U.N. operates in New York. That agreement, as well as a number of other legal and procurement issues, was raised by the U.N. to explain its inability to comply with the terms set by the FDNY.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
What’s the problem? If the UN doesn’t want to play by the rules, then NY should just not offer Fire assistance. No big deal.
I cannot describe how mad I will be if I ever see us donate one dime to build a new building anywhere but especially in this country.
Really, does anyone here not know how to get things done at the UN? If you want things done you have to remember Cuba Gooding’s line - “show me the money”. Ripping off the US is now an art form at the UN. Nobody will act until the payoff is made.
The FDNY should just send a letter to the UN telling them they are on their own if there is a fire or other emergency.
I’ll gladly commit to donating $50 if they build it anyplace outside of the US.
Agreements meant to assure the U.N.'s independence of its host country are important, one U.N. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But when it comes to the staff's safety, such legal issues should take a back seat, he said. "What do they expect, the fire brigade of Fiji to come to our rescue? We are in New York," he said.
I laughed out loud on that one.
Get mad enough to spit nails.
John R. Bolton, the American ambassador, said Monday that the United States had offered $23.5 million but was not convinced that the larger amount was needed at the moment. "I don't think the justification has been made yet on the full $100 million," he said.
That's just for the remodel.
Bingo!
Buh-bye.
From your keyboard to the pyromaniacs of the world. *snicker*
if I were with the NYFD and the un building was on fire, it would be tempting to valve off all water near or to the area.
Where would they put it?
That is the question.
An excellent solution. Put them in the midst of those they want to support. Build the new un in Africa.
If the whole thing burns down, and we can only pray that happens, the UN should be moved to Caracas, Venezuela and supplied with a new building AT SOMEONE ELSE’S EXPENSE, not ours.
What a devious plan-I love it. hahahaha
Works for me. Maybe if we passed the hat they’d move out of that decrepit tenement they are in...(8^D)
I do all I can.... LOL
Well they can’t be too far from the five star restaurants, the dancing and carousing, the unpaid parking ticket haven. Probably right back where it was.
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