Scaffold Law in Daily News Letters to the Editor

Codified boondoggle

Albany: I applaud The News’ call for Gov. Cuomo to ensure that the Gateway tunnel project is “fast and economical” (”Hole in the tunnel,” editorial, July 12). Unfortunately, New York’s unique legal environment makes construction projects across the state anything but. To update our infrastructure without wasting taxpayer money, New York must reform its outdated Scaffold Law. It saddles construction projects with excessive costs by imposing absolute liability on property owners and contractors for height-related worksite injuries, even if the injured worker is at fault. As a result, the cost of the Gateway project is estimated to be inflated by as much as $300 million, according to Common Good. For this reason, contractors have urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to override the Scaffold Law for the Gateway project. These extra costs could be spent on any of the numerous other infrastructure upgrades that New York so desperately needs. Taxpayer dollars are precious. Tom Stebbins, Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York

Read it online here: https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-letter-july-16-20210716-vl2dem23xjf6vcgcnljzv6iru4-story.html