Four killed in Utica fire!

[Swimmy]

Dave,

That's why someday I hope I win a huge case, and can afford to make 6 scholarships: 1. for my high school, 4 for my undergraduate, and 1 for my law school. My way of helping to give students a chance who might not have had the opportunity because of financial reasons or because of a rough academic start, but have demonstrated their ability to stay committed and improve their grades.

I'd also want to help fund a local competitive swim program and re-build new hartford swimming. But expand the program to help at-risk teens. Swimming is a wonderful sport that provided me with many life lessons. Without most of them, I would not be as successful as I am today (if you want to call working for free and still living with the rents successful). But seriously, I'm indebted to my coaches, parents, teammates, and teachers. Those are the best ways I can give back and try to leave the world in a better position than when I entered it.

[thelma]

My GD and I drove by this house that was burnt out yesterday evening and just the sight of the devastation makes you cry, and knowing 4 people lost their lives in this terrible fire.

The fire consumed the entire building which is black from the fire damage and at least 1/3 of the roof was consumed by fire.

I heard on the morning news that the fire inspectors are now examining the floor boards to see if this fire was intentionally set. It is a horrible sight to see and makes you realize just how dangerous and fast a fire can destroy lives.

[frankcor]

What are the odds of someone losing their job at City Hall over this? How does a rental place escape codes, fire and HUD inspections?

[dgriffin]

A. It could be up to code, such as the code provides. B. They can't inspect every house in the city.
That would be my excuse, if I were on watch.

[Ralph]

I guess a lot of this inspection routine would depend on if anyone in the home was on Public Assistance.
3/4 of all the codes inspections done in the City are for either the County PA program or Section 8, and usually have to be done every six months. So there's that.

I would find it hard to believe, that of the people described as living there, that none of them were receiving such assistance. But it is possible.

If none of them were, then it's entirely possible that it just went by the wayside. Remember that the "Multiple Dwelling Inspection Ordinance" was just pasted a short time ago, and they can't do them all at once.

[frankcor]

It just seems like there's a difference like night and day when you compare codes enforcement in Utica to Rome. In Utica, Codes Inspector is just another name for "cousin."

[froggy]

frankcor said:

It just seems like there's a difference like night and day when you compare codes enforcement in Utica to Rome. In Utica, Codes Inspector is just another name for "cousin."

I just about pissed myself just now laughing so hard when read that. Too fukin' funny.

[WestmoGuy]

What happened to the program that the FD was gonna inspect all rental units anyway?

[frankcor]

I guess Fire Inspector means "cousin's cousin" in Utica.

[WestmoGuy]

LOL

I had a ton of cousins working for the City.
Never did me any good

[thelma]

Too late to do anything about the lack of Codes inspecting this house. I heard on the news Mr. Brooks, Fire Commissioner, say "this one fell thru the cracks; we can't inspect all of these types of homes"!

Why not? It is their job to make sure tragedies like this don't occur!!!!!!!

[frankcor]

Wait a minute. There's a Fire Commissioner in Utica? And a Public Safety Commissioner?

Ralph and Thelma, are you the only people in Utica that don't work for the city?

I guess if someone had to lose their job over this, I'd be looking real close at a Fire Commissioner who simply shrugs and says "shit happens."

[john725]

My prayers go out to the deceased as well as the injured man who is an old friend. I knew all of them--from my homeless days (OY! John has a PAST!!) as well as thru my interventions and street counselings...

It is true that most of these "rooming house" residents have fallen through the cracks...and it is SOOO sad that it would take a tragedy like this to wake everyone up to the disparities inherent in Codes, UFD, DSS etc...

Remember, single people only receive $315 per month DSS...

Guess you have to be a single mother who either doesn't know her babydaddy or was threatened not to reveal his name to get REAL help. MY GOD DSS BENDS OVER BACKWARDS for them.

And yes I can name names and examples.

Rest in Peace Frenchy and the others. You no longer have to deal with a crooked bureaucracy.

[Ralph]

frankcor said:

Ralph and Thelma, are you the only people in Utica that don't work for the city?

I guess......I got a nice gold badge and a "see ya later sucka".

Actually, most of the Firemen are now all certified Codes Inspectors and are conducting inspections. But they concentrate on commercial and mutli-unit residencies.

IF we were renting our other apartment and IF they got to us, ours would be inspected as well. Last I knew the estimate was anywheres from two to five years to inspect all the units in the City and then start all over again.

But if the house was originally listed as a single family home on the tax roles, the Ordinance wouldn't apply to it. I know of several that are still listed as single family dwellings but have been converted to two or three apartments.

So there is more to it than just "falling through the cracks". I don't think Russ meant it as a brush off, just that it was by-passed for some reason, or had not been addressed as of this time.
After what the Codes Department has been through in the past several years I am surprised any of them know who their own boss is anyways!

I think we'll have to wait until everything comes to light before we can figure this one out.

[thelma]

I must not be as aware of the dealings of our wonderful City government as I should be. When I was awarded Custody of my GD in 2006, I was also entitled to a monthly grant from the Federal Government (administered by Social Services) as legally, grandparents are NOT legally responsible for the support of their grandchildren. So - for $224 a month, I had to bring in all kinds of documents verifying my GD was an actual person, documents verifying my relationship to her, as well as documents showing I was also an actual person, plus the Custody papers and filling out a 20 page form that asked every type of question imaginable.

My GD also was eligible for Medicaid and Fidelis which helped since I am retired and couldn't afford to get private medical coverage for her alone.

One other part of all this elgibility process was that I had to have my home inspected by Codes which was very simple. I just called their Dept. and they made an appointment that was convenient for both of us, and they came and "inspected" my little 3 bedroom ranch that my GD and I call home. All they did was tell me I had to put another Smoke Alarm in my GD's bedroom which was off the hallway that contains the other two bedroom (both have smoke alarms) and they also verified I had a carbon monoxide detector in my home. They were here about 5 minutes and left!

Note: After going thru all the bullsh*t of the "paperwork needed for this monthly $224 grant for the past 18 months, I decided this little bit of money just wasn't worth all the hassle. Plus I had just been released from the Hospital in January with pneumonia and they expected me to come down there and "recertify" not caring that I was barely strong enough to walk from the couch to the chair. I think you all know me well enough b y now to know what I told them they could do with their paperwork!