Schumer Reveals: United Nations Building Has Deteriorated So That It Has Become a Deathtrap, Putting First Responders at Risk

Schumer Reveals: United Nations Building Has Deteriorated So That It Has Become A Deathtrap, Putting First Responders At Risk In The Event Of Emergency

Current Building hasn't been Updated for 50 Years, Violates NYC Fire and Safety Codes - Oval Out Front Could Not Support Necessary Fire Equipment, Would Collapse Under the Weight of the Trucks

Schumer Calls on Ambassador Bolton, Secretary General Annan to Step Up to the Plate, Get Rehabilitation Approved as Soon as UN Reconvenes Next Month

Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, standing at the United Nations called for the immediate renovation of the United Nations building, which has not been updated in fifty years. The United Nations is one of the twenty largest employers in the City and generates billions of dollars for the City's economy. However, the building, in its current state, poses a terrible risk to those who work inside the building, in the neighborhood, and first responders. Schumer called on Ambassador Bolton and Secretary Annan to work quickly to guide the project through the approval process as soon at the United Nations reconvenes in September.

"While the blue-green windows of Secretariat building glisten on the outside every day, on the inside the building is crumbling," Schumer said. "The UN's grave state of disrepair may be hidden, but it is putting the health and safety of thousands of New Yorkers in great danger"

The U.N. headquarters hasn't undergone a major renovation since it was built 50 years ago, and now violates most New York City fire and safety codes. In its current state, the UN complex poses a risk to the lives of those who work in the building, the neighborhoods adjacent to the building, and the first responders who would be called onto the scene in the event of an emergency. The complex has no sprinkler system, is packed with asbestos and leaks nearly 25 percent of the heat pumped into it in the winter.

In July of 2005, U.N. Undersecretary-General Christopher Burnham, in his testimony before Congress said that a major fire would sweep up the sides of the building "within minutes…If one of the massive steam pipes which now leak were to blow, there's a real potential that a large area surrounding the U.N. would be contaminated with asbestos, requiring the evacuation of the area until cleaning crews could decontaminate it." Heavy emergency service vehicles wouldn't be able to reach the main building because the asphalt oval in the front, which covers an underground garage, could not support their weight

These issues arose in the early 1990's and the UN has gone to great lengths to prepare for a renovation, spending millions on architects, engineers and sub-consultants. The project has been delayed for many reasons, including the New York State Senates failure to alienate the Robert Moses playground in 2005. The defeat of this legislation meant that the UN had to abandon their long held plans of building a new tower to house workers during the renovation and instead opt to move workers out of the Secretariat building in stages while carrying out the extensive renovations.

In addition, the UN adds enormous economic value to the city per annum. In employing 6000 people, it is one of the top 20 largest employers in the City. The latest figures on the economic impact of the UN, a study in 1995 by the City of New York, found that entities only here because of the United Nations directly spent $1.5 billion in the NYC area and that the total direct and indirect spending by the entire UN and it's employees was $3.3 billion. Estimates today, put that contribution to the City of New York in excess of $4 billion. Additionally, the UN attracts tourists from around the world to Manhattan's Far East side. According to the United Nations, 37 million visitors have visited the "Parliament of the World" since 1952, with average attendance near 400,000 people per year. In June of this year, the UN adopted a plan - known as Strategy IV - that would move workers out of the Secretariat building ten floors at a time into leased space in midtown Manhattan. The renovations would be performed so that the bulk of the building would be operational throughout the process. The plan also calls for the renovation of the Hall of Delegates, the grand chamber where representatives from nations around the world meet. A temporary Hall space would be constructed on the North Lawn of the UN facility while the renovations were completed, a process that would likely take about 1 year to complete. Currently, the UN has allocated $100.5 million to pay for design, engineering and leasing costs associated with the renovation project. The total project cost is estimated at $1.6 billion, including the money already appropriated. Beginning in October of this year the UN's Fifth Committee, the entity with oversight over all spending at the UN, is expected to commence debate on the remainder of the appropriation. The project will be paid for in the same manner that member nations pay their dues. The United States currently pays 22% of the UN's operating costs of the institution. Schumer warned that if the UN did not move quickly to approve the renovation, the price tag for the job could spiral out of control. In April of this year, the former head of the rebuilding effort, Louis Fredrick Reuter IV calculated that because of worldwide construction escalation costs and the particularly high price of building in New York City, every day that the project was delayed increased the final cost by $225,000.

In an effort to finally get the building renovated, Schumer today called on Secretary General Annan to step up to the plate and have the 5th committee consider this item as soon as they return, lest delays will push back construction start date and lead to more cost overruns

He also called on Ambassador Bolton to make this a priority for the United States and the United Nations. Schumer said today that because the United Nations is New York Bolton needs to lead the way in making sure it is safe for the neighborhood and its inhabitants.

Schumer noted that while he often disagrees with specific policies and positions adopted by the UN, the renovation of the Secretariat building was a health and safety imperative for New York City.

"The UN needs to reform the way its bureaucracy works. And the policies that UN implements, and blocks, are sometimes downright awful," Schumer said. "Given it dire state of disrepair and the unquestionable value the UN brings to New York, public officials at all levels of government should pull out all the stops to make it happen"

The United States and New York City have a long and proud tradition of providing a welcome home to the United Nations Headquarters. In the 1940's President Truman provided a $65 million ($465 million in 2000 dollars) no-interest loan to construct the campus; the city of New York contributed $5 million towards clearing land and performing site prep; and a private citizen - John D. Rockefeller -- donated 17 acres of property he had purchased for $8.5 million on which the facility is currently sited. "Renovating the UN is not only an investment in the economic future of our city and country," Schumer said. "Its presence here has helped New York achieve the rightful title as the Capital of the World. We need to do everything we can to keep the U.N. here. A safe U.N."

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=262214&&year=2006&