Call For Con Ed To Claim Culpability

 > After the tragic electrocution and death of Jodie Lane last month, the City Council launched an investigation into Con Edisons service of exposed wires. Politicians and civic leaders alike are now calling on Con Edison and other utility companies to immediately upgrade their procedures for inspection, repair and maintenance of the citys cable and electrical system.
Councilmembers Peter Vallone Jr., Transportation Committee Chair John Liu, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller recently held a press conference at City Hall to urge the power company to improve its procedures in regard to public safety.
On Thursday, February 12, the Committee on Transportation will conduct a public hearing to investigate how to further prevent unnecessary deaths on city sidewalks through better communication with the city, utility companies, its workers and the public.
"New Yorkers should not be walking in a minefield. Con Edison needs to do more work to service these wires," said Vallone. "And the City Council needs to use its oversight powers to help find solutions if Con Ed cannot do it on its own."
In response to the tragedy and the reaction to it, Con Edison is giving its workers a 30-day timeframe in which to inspect all the manhole covers citywide.
According to a Con Edison spokesman, at last report, nearly all of the 250,000 boxes had been inspected. It was found that in Queens approximately 28 had stray voltage (some so low that it could not be detected by humans or animals). Of these 28, allegedly all were repaired. This does not include lampposts.
Vallone and Councilmember Margarita Lopez also announced that they are sponsoring legislation that would require Con Edison to inspect its 250,000 boxes prior to the onset of winter, as many of the problems are allegedly related to the snow and salt of the season.
Con Edison supervisors will then have to sign off on these annual inspections and repairs. A report must then be submitted to the mayor, and will be made public to local communities.
Assemblymember Michael Gianaris has also introduced similar legislation in Albany.
"Im trying to make sure Con Edison pays the same amount of attention to the problem each year, not only as a reaction after a tragedy," said Gianaris. "We want inspections to be done so that we know how many boxes have electrical charges and what repairs are being done. We want Con Edison to then report to city and state leaders."
Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, said that he has found more than 12 locations from Forest Hills to Middle Village with exposed wiring.
"We warned Con Edison that they were endangering the public with their haphazard wiring," said Holden. "They have been negligent and have jeopardized public safety. Knowing what I know, I wouldnt touch a light pole in New York City."