Mayor confirms NYCHA inspection lapse

<p>Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that a lapse in NYCHA building inspections began during the last mayoral administration, in 2012, and that his office didn't uncover it until 2016, when they were quickly resumed.</p>

News 12 Staff

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Nov 20, 2017, 9:25 PM

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Updated 2,592 days ago

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that a lapse in NYCHA building inspections began during the last mayoral administration, in 2012, and that his office didn't uncover it until 2016, when they were quickly resumed.

The announcement came in response to last week's Department of Investigations report that said NYCHA lied about performing lead paint inspections, potentially putting thousands of people at risk.

The report accuses NYCHA Chairwoman Sola Olatoye of knowing about bypassed inspections despite signing documents saying they were happening.

Although some have called for Olatoye's resignation, the mayor is continuing to support her.

"The big picture is that the chair has done a great job at turning around a broken situation at NYCHA, and we'll turn this one around too," de Blasio says.

Since the work resumed, he says inspectors visited about 4,200 apartments. But that doesn't explain why the mayor waited so long before talking about the lapse publicly.

Councilman Ritchie Torres and other councilmembers are demanding an independent monitor to oversee NYCHA.

"I will not relent in holding NYCHA's feet to the fire until one is appointed," Torres said.