East Midtown Explosion Was No Accident

Since the blast last month, it was suspected that the explosion was not just a freak occurrence. Now there is proof and it is starting to complicate matters. Con Edison and the city want to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible and two lanes were opened on Lexington this week, but due diligence is still needed with lawsuits pending and people that demand accountability instead of a cover up. Well the fight between the tow truck driver's lawyer and Con Ed is about to heat up.

From The Daily News:

A crucial Con Edison steam valve wasn't working just before last month's deadly steampipe explosion, a bombshell affidavit from a top state regulator says.

The "steam trap," just feet away from the blast site at 41st St. and Lexington Ave., was supposed to drain water out of the steampipe to prevent a catastrophic condition called "water hammer," which causes water to slam into itself with incredible pressure.

The stainless-steel trap was installed in December 2006, but preliminary tests after the explosion revealed it wasn't operating and had a possible debris buildup, according to the sworn statement by Thomas Dvorsky, an engineer who heads the state Public Service Department office in charge of steam service.

So there was definitely a pre-existing problem. City and state officials want to cut the trap open to investigate, while the manufacturer of the device says that it was designed to keep water away even if it failed. The lawyer for Gregory McCullough also has reservations:

McCullough's lawyer Kenneth Thompson has blocked the tests, saying the utility can't be trusted to investigate itself.

"I do not want this to happen to any other family," said McCullough's mother, Tanya McCullough-Stewart. "He does cry. You can see the pain in his eyes."

Of course that is an emotional appeal (well-deserved of course, the poor guy is facing possible amputation of an arm and a leg) but so what. An independent observer needs to be brought in to oversee this, I wouldn't trust Con Edison either.

NYC Not Doing Enough In Wake Of Steam Pipe Explosion

Days after the spectacular explosion by Grand Central the city is doing plenty to clean up their mess. The ones that aren't being taken care of are the victims. Injured citizens are beginning to file lawsuits against Con Edison and businesses are dumbfounded by the $10,000 loans being offered to help offset the dramatic decrease in business throughout the area. Con Ed is looking at a massive lawsuit or at least multiple cases from shops and people affected by the blast.

From The Daily News:

Francine Dorf of Bay Ridge, who lost her older sister on 9/11, filed suit against Con Ed in Brooklyn Supreme Court, saying she was treated for smoke in her eyes and lungs after fleeing through asbestos-tainted debris.

Dorf, 52, said she feared she was caught in a terrorist bombing after the explosion near her E. 42nd St. office, triggering her posttraumatic stress disorder.

"All the stress, it brought back what happened six years ago," Dorf said.

Meanwhile, business owners pressed Con Ed for financial assistance.

"Con Ed should really help out," said Naser Abu, manager of Fresh Pizza on 43rd St. and Third Ave., which lost $6,500. "It's their fault and their responsibility."

Thats right, it is their responsibility. I almost feel like not paying my next few electric bills because I live near the blast...but I won't go there now. People's health and their livelihoods have been bent seriously out of shape because Con Ed and the city did not do enough to ensure the safety of its residents even while knowing these problems exist. There have been multiple explosions of this sort in the city's past and we should have been ready for it.

Bloomberg proved himself oblivious to the concerns of the people yet again, saying that the Small Business loans should be enough. He isn't letting Con Ed off the hook of course, but the blase attitude is distasteful to say the least. New Yorkers deserve more than this crap.