Grodenchik proposes legislation that would
require sprinklers for residential buildings
BY JENNA BAGCAL
As the fire death toll in
New York grows, a Queens
lawmaker announced legislation
that would improve
residents’ safety, especially
those living in large residential
properties.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, on
the steps of City Hall, Councilman
Barry Grodenchik
proposed 1146-A, which requires
residential buildings
over 40 feet high to install
sprinklers by 2029.
It aims to protect residents
as Local Law 26 of 2004
did for workers in high-rise
office buildings.
New York City fire fatalities
rose from 43 in 2017 to 88
in 2018, according to the New
York City Fire Department
(FDNY). So far, there have
been 56 fire-related deaths in
2019.
The Bureau of Fire Investigation’s
annual report for
2018 showed that there were
3,021 accidental fires and
1,001 fire injuries in New
Councilman Barry Grodenchik proposed a bill requiring sprinklers
in residential buildings that are at least 40 feet tall
York City last year.
In 2018, the Bureau of Fire
Investigation reported 640
accidental fires in Queens,
with 562 of those occuring in
occupied buildings.
The report also listed the
top causes of accidental fires
Courtesy of Grodenchik’s offi ce
which include: electrical devices
(920); smoking (733);
open flames (336); hot objects
(316); and cooking carelessness
(280).
“Tragically, many of the
victims of fire fatalities are
children,” said Grodenchik.
“Smoke detectors and even
fire alarms are not enough.
We need sprinkler systems to
save lives.”
Others who joined Grodenchik
at City Hall included
Councilman Robert E. Cornegy
Jr., the bill’s co-sponsor,
along with Councilman
Carlos Menchaca, fire safety
advocates and community
leaders.
“Fires, especially those
that break out hundreds
or thousands of feet above
street level, require more
than passive solutions like
smoke detectors and fireproof
construction,” said
Cornegy. “Sprinkler systems
represent an active solution
to life-endangering fires in
large residential buildings.
It is time we bring the law up
to date to protect New York
citizens.”
In 2018, six people, including
four children, died after
a fire ripped through an
apartment building in Harlem.
That same year, a fire in
a Bronx apartment building
claimed the lives of 12 individuals
— seven adults and
five children.
A study conducted by the
University of Nevada’s College
of Urban Affairs showed
that smoke detectors are not
enough to save lives or prevent
property damage.
“Studies have shown that
properly installed and maintained
fire sprinklers are effective
at controlling a fire
96 percent of the time,” said
Tony Saporito of the New
York Fire Sprinkler Council,
a division of the Mechanical
Contractors Association
of New York. “By simply requiring
that owners of older
multi-family homes install
and maintain the same fire
sprinkler systems that keep
office workers and residents
of newer buildings safe today,
Intro 1146-A will save
lives.”
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.
com or by phone at (718) 260-
2583.
QCA announces cohort of artist commissioners
BY JENNA BAGCAL
An Astoria-based arts nonprofit
recently named 13 individuals
who will be responsible
for awarding $40,000 in
art commissions by the end of
the year.
These Artist Commissioners
are part of the Queens
Council on the Arts’ 2019-
2020 advisory cohort, which
includes a retired attorney,
urban planner, anthropologist
and community activist.
Together, the diverse group
will award four $10,000 commissions
to choreographers,
composers and playwrights
through QCA’s Artist Commissioning
Program (ACP).
According to QCA, the local
community members represent
Maspeth/Ridgewood and
Flushing, which the nonprofit
chose as the focus for the current
commissioning cycle. The
Artist Commissioners will
be responsible for choosing
works that resonate with the
characteristics of each neighborhood.
“Art Commissioners comprise
the next generation of
art supporters in Queens, and
are the flagship component
of our Artist Commissioning
Program,” said Program Manager
Kelly Olshan.
Nov. 14 was the deadline for
artists to apply for the Artist
Commissioning Program. The
chosen artists will work together
with commissioners at
“monthly convenings,” which
include project updates, art
salons and opportunities for
professional development.
“The voices of the community
should be in the center
of the process when it comes
to integrating the arts into…
the larger American historical
narrative and cultural
landscape,” wrote Ya Yun
Teng, Flushing Art Commissioner.
“QCA’s program provides
an opportunity to return
art-making ownership to the
stakeholders of the Queens
community.”
The seven Flushing Art
Commissioners for 2019-2020
are Branka Duknic, Claire Marie
Lim, Emily Gross, Jamerry
Kim, Jefferson Mao, John
Choe and Ya Yun Teng. Flushing
advisory panelists include
Rob Urbinati, Sejin Park and
Soh Young Lee-Segredo.
Brendan Leach, Christina
Wilkinson, Laurie Bennett,
Linda Monte, Richard Morales
and Teru Kuwayama
will be this cycle’s Maspeth/
Ridgewood Art Commissioners.
Barbara Podgurski and
Mary Ellen Stebbins will serve
as panel advisors.
The commissioners and
advisors will do as their titles
suggest and advise awardees
through the creation and
production processes. Their
monthly convenings will take
place at local art spaces like
Supermoon Art Space, Maspeth
Welding and Latimer
House Museum.
To learn more about the
2019-2020 cohort, visit queenscouncilarts.
org/2019-artcommissioners.
Branka Duknic, Claire Marie Lim, Emily Gross, Jamerry Kim,
Jefferson Mao, John Choe, Ya Yun Teng, Brendan Leach, Christina
Wilkinson, Laurie Bennett, Richard Morales, Linda Monte, Teru
Kuwayama. Photo courtesy of Queens Council on the Arts
TIMESLEDGER,24 NOV. 29-DEC. 5, 2019 QNS.COM
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