The Unnecessary Tragedy of Surfside—What and Why Did It Happen
Read Time:2 Minute, 43 Second
by Brenda Williams, June 28, 2021
My mind is heavy with Surfside, Florida, and the collapse of the condominium building.
So, being a Chief Building Official (CBO) isn’t for sissies. I did it for twelve years; ten in Youngstown OH and two in Ashtabula County in OH. The CBO is responsible for every construction project, including condemnation of structures.
The political pressure to “put this project first” and “look the other way” was constant and unrelenting. I wouldn’t bow to Youngstown’s corrupt mayor (later indicted on 100 charges) pressuring me to NOT enforce building codes unilaterally, or more directly said, I wouldn’t do favors for him that would enhance his kickbacks and please his goombas. AT THE RISK OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
Fireworks illegally stored in a huge warehouse next to 100 school buses full of fuel. Large plate-glass windows falling out of a high-rise building; one literally at my feet from the 9th floor with limestone panels falling off the facade of another high rise. A four-level parking deck built of reinforced concrete with major spalling, exposed and rusted rebar, and columns with stress cracks. In each of these situations, I had to do what no politician wants to happen. ENFORCE BUILDING CODES, CLOSE BUSINESSES, CONDEMN STRUCTURES.
I’ve long said that building departments should not be a branch of municipal government. They should be overseen by the state’s board of building standards. POLITICS HAVE NO PLACE IN According to what I’ve read and seen on the news, the CBO of Surfside FL had seen the structural report in 2018. I read that report. I would have condemned the building that day, removing all residents until structural repairs were made and the work was inspected by a third party.
ABUNDANT CRACKING
DETERIORATING REBAR
ORIGINAL DESIGN ALLOWING WATER INFILTRATION
MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
EXPENSIVE AND IMMEDIATE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS NEEDED
The CBO told the condominium board that the building was safe, after reading those words in the 2018 report. Was he under political pressure to make that declaration? Was he a political appointee that didn’t have the knowledge to interpret the severity of the structural issues? Was he corrupt?
No matter the reason, he fu*ked up. He didn’t do the work. He had the information. He didn’t act.
Going against the politicians gets you fired. It happened to me. Twice.
I will never take another position as a CBO. The responsibility of the position was never the problem. It was fighting the politicians when I had to do the right thing. The safe thing.
Politics > safety = death
I hope this tragedy leads to major reforms in removing the responsibility for building safety from local, municipal government oversight. Otherwise, it will happen again.
ED: This article was intentionally held until now because each day brings less, and less coverage of this tragedy and it will soon disappear from the front pages. I want to keep reminding people of what happened, and hopefully, to play a part in bringing those responsible for so much death to justice in some form. Many thanks to Stacey B. Gray.
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This is the oldest scam being played anywhere in the world. I remember my uncle being a councilman and receiving payoffs from paving contractors and keeping his money stashed in his sock drawer. His biggest mistake was letting me know where he kept it. I always had spending money because he couldn’t say anything. Yep, I was a little thief for four years.
I agree with this assessment. I had been involved in politics for over 30 years and have seen the pressure used by politicians to get their way even though they are not the experts. I don’t expect a politician to be an expert in everything, but I expect them to consult one when they don’t know.
A terrible tragedy, and hard to watch the media reporting with their preying on the families of the victims.
I so hope those who are responsible are bought to book. This was certainly an ‘unnecessary’ tragedy.
A poignant article by my friend Brenda.
There is an old adage about paying attention to the opinions of the experts you hire. It is unfortunate that so many in public administration are anything but experts in their fields, simply political appointees. This tragedy, and many similarly resultant of inept political cronies will be repeated many times over. When will we learn?