New York City Council voted unanimously in the affirmative on Thursday, May 19, to pass the first package of bills sponsored by District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, chair of the City Council Twin Parks Fire Safety Committee, which aim to strengthen fire enforcement and safety in New York City communities.

 

The various bills increase penalties and fines for self-closing door violations. As reported, the FDNY found that a self-closing door violation was a contributing factor in the occurrence of loss of life during the Twin Parks fire tragedy of Sunday, Jan. 9.

 

The bills also increase fines and penalties for false certifications of alleged corrected violations by landlords, they decrease the amount of time that landlords have to correct self-closing door violations to 14 days, they mandate that New York City Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) re-inspect all self-closing door violations within 20 days, and they further specify the definition of self-closing doors to make sure they latch shut when closed.

 

“Properly-functioning self-closing doors could have prevented the unspeakable Twin Parks tragedy,” said Feliz in the context of the bills’ passage. “Had the self-closing doors worked, smoke wouldn’t have filled the 19-story tower, and families would’ve been able to safely escape the fire.”

 

As reported, the councilman had introduced the bills in the wake of the Twin Parks fire tragedy in Fordham Heights which, as reported, claimed the lives of 17 people, including 8 children. Other legislative measures relating to fire safety and prevention were also either started or implemented straight away by the mayor, the State and Congress in response to the incident, in addition to prior fire prevention legislation which had been passed in response to previous tragedies.

It’s been painful since we lost 17 neighbors in the horrific fire at Twin Parks Northwest. Grateful to Chair @OswaldFeliz for leading efforts to pass important legislation to prevent future tragedies. Thx to the City Council & Twin Parks Citywide Task Force on Fire Prevention. pic.twitter.com/QO7YgBMzdO

— Hon. Vanessa L. Gibson, MPA (She, Her, Hers) (@Vanessalgibson) May 24, 2022

According to the councilman’s office, the latest City Council bills aim to protect New Yorkers and increase City agency oversight of housing violations. His office representatives said the bills aim to prevent a repeat of the Twin Parks fire tragedy by putting in place extra steps to curtail fires in the City and increase safety education.

 

“We cannot allow another similar tragedy to ever happen again,” Feliz said. “These fire safety bills will ensure that self-closing door laws are scrupulously followed and enforced.”

 

As reported, several other fires have taken place in The Bronx and across the City since the Twin Parks fire tragedy. However, as reported, it has not always been possible to ascertain what caused these fires. Recently, we reported that at least one had been caused by lithium-ion batteries used in e-scooters.

 

Feliz is the local city council representative in the district where the Twin Parks fire tragedy occurred. “The mandatory re-inspections and increased civil penalties will help ensure that violations are taken seriously and promptly corrected; and that landlords who fail to do so are held accountable,” he said. “Self-closing doors are crucial fire-fighting and life-saving equipment, and these bills will ensure that they are properly functioning.”