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Carlos Law
September 1, 2022
Carlos’ Law Sets Minimum $500K Penalty for Construction Deaths
The bill would require criminal penalties of at least $300,000 for a misdemeanor and $500,000 for a felony conviction for a worker’s death or injury. The bill is now in the hands of Governor Kathy Hochul, who has not yet signaled her intentions. She has until the end of the year to decide whether to sign it, along with the other pending legislation on her desk.
Times Union
August 24, 2022
Scaffolding law is hurting New York’s recovery
There is no greater priority than the safety and well-being of all workers before or after being injured on a construction site. The irony of all this is that New York has one of the safest construction rates in the country – despite having lower insurance costs in other areas. Is it any wonder why construction activity is low in New York and almost every other area?
New Jersey News
August 23, 2022
What does the future hold for scaffolding law in New York?
Judge Defiore’s retirement from the Court of Appeals could bring changes to the court’s ever-evolving interpretation of New York’s staging law, Labor Law 240(1). In the 150 years since its creation and the thousands of rulings, staging law has generally been construed in favor of the plaintiff. More recently, the court has moved away from this punitive interpretation to confirm the plaintiff’s affirmative duty before delivering a brief judgment.
Gotham Gazette | Opinion
#CarlosLaw
August 12, 2022
New York Must Amend Carlos’ Law Before the Governor Signs It
By Louis Coletti
Windobi
#CarlosLaw
August 12, 2022
New York Must Change Carlos’ Law Before Governor Signs It
In New York, insurance costs are $41 per square foot compared to $3 in Connecticut and $4 in New Jersey. Is it any wonder why companies are moving there, or why there is always such a housing shortage and affordability crisis in New York?
Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect
#CarlosLaw
August 9, 2022
New York’s Carlos’ Bill proposes steep fines that could cripple small contractors: BTEA
One of the BTEA’s fears is that the Carlos Bill could be on a par with New York Labor Law 240, The Scaffold Law, which states a contractor has “absolute liability” for any injury or fatality on a jobsite, regardless of the conditions.
ENR
#CarlosLaw
July 15, 2022
Fewer NYC Construction Deaths as Safety Law Awaits Governor's Signature
Contractors seek changes before final approval.
Habitat | Building Operations
June 16, 2022
Co-op and Condo Insurance Costs Will Continue to Rise
Times Union | Commentary
May 25, 2022
Scaffold Law is hurting New York's recovery
Louis Coletti and Nayan Parikh
NEW YORK NOW
May 6, 2022
Environmental Bond Act, Scaffold Law Reform in New York
Season 2022 Episode 18 |
Voters will decide in November if New York should borrow $4.2 billion in bonds over three decades to combat climate change and address environmental damage. New York passed a law in 1885 to protect workers in the construction trades. But, since then, some say the law's been interpreted in ways that have led to abuse. Learn more about the law and why the state should change it.
Buffalo News
April 22, 2022
Letter: Consider Scaffold Law in Bills stadium cost
The new Bills stadium deal marks an excellent time to review the reasons that New York State is such an expensive place to build. The new stadium deal announced earlier this week comes with a price tag of $850 million. The steep cost has many asking questions about the value of the deal. What is known, however, is the cost of the stadium is increased by New York’s outdated Scaffold Law.
Habitat | Bricks & Bucks
April 6, 2022
The Hard Truth About Soft Costs for Co-op and Condo Boards
Hudson Valley 360
March 25, 2022
Make the most of funding allocated for infrastructure projects
Crain's New York Business | Op-ed
March 18, 2022
Here’s how to kick-start construction and get New Yorkers back to work
By Louis Coletti - Eliminate the exorbitant and unnecessary insurance mandates of the state’s scaffold law, responsible for insurance premiums 300% higher than anywhere else in the country. The law, repealed in every other state except New York, imposes automatic, 100% liability on contractors for any worker injury, irrespective of any contributing factor, and it is a primary driver of the high cost of construction.
Gotham Gazzette | Opinion
February 25, 2022
Construction Industry Report More Evidence Scaffold Law Has Nothing To Do with Safety
By Tom Stebbins
Long Island Business News
January 7, 2022
How we'll do in '22
Regulations and arbitrary mandates such as the scaffold law continue to defy much needed reform.
Empire Center
December 9, 2021
Altered State: A checklist for change in New York State
Crain's New York Business
December 5, 2021
Crain's Extra: The Week Ahead
Dec. 10 - The City Council holds a hearing about regulatory burdens on small businesses. No further info about the agenda was available at deadline, so here’s a suggestion: Something needs to be done about the Scaffold Law, which holds builders 100% liable for gravity-related accidents even if others are also responsible. Should either Gov. Kathy Hochul or Mayor-elect Eric Adams or both want to show the business community there’s a new sheriff in town, amending the law would do it.
Building Design + Construction
November 23, 2021
New York’s Labor Law Section 240 and how it affects general contractors
It seems impossible to protect against any and all claims under Labor Law 240.
Habitat | Feature
November 1, 2021
Even Small Jobs Can Lead to Big Claims
New York's Scaffold Law can mean big problems for boards when a worker gets injured – even with insurance.
Gotham Gazette | Letter to the Editor
September 17, 2021
More Lawsuits Won’t Help Workers or New York
By Tom Stebbins
Newswires EIN
August 25, 2021
Open Letter to NY Governor Kathy Hochul: Libertarian Party of New York
Repeal the Scaffold and Wicks Laws.
Daily News
July 16, 2021
Readers sound off on NYC’s progressive voters, post-lockdown concert and curbing street violence
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
Construction Dive
June 2, 2021
Report: COVID-19 cost NYC construction industry $9.8 billion
BTEA also called attention to the general liability insurance cost under the city’s Scaffold Law, which imposes absolute liability on gravity-related injuries, even those to or caused by an impaired worker. Coletti described the Scaffold Law as “absurd.” He isn’t alone in that sentiment.
Crain's New York | Op-Ed
June 1, 2021
New York's Scaffold Law is holding back affordable housing
Analysis shows that the Scaffold Law drives up construction costs as much as 7% on a given project; without it, New York could have created and preserved an additional 12,600 affordable homes in the past five years alone.
NewsChannel 34 WIVT/WBGH
January 22, 2021
Binghamton Chamber releases Legislative Agenda
auburnpub.com
January 20, 2021
Cayuga County's state reps react to Cuomo's NY budget proposal
New York Post
January 14, 2021
Andrew Cuomo’s vast public-construction plans come at a huge price for NY
Capital Tonight/Spectrum News
January 4, 2021
Unshackle Upstate's Justin Wilcox: "Listen to All Sides"
The Saratogian
December 29, 2020
Capital Region Chamber supports a 5-year moratorium on the Scaffold Law
Daily News
November 23, 2020
Dismantle this law: New York’s Scaffold Law diminishes affordable housing supply by driving up the cost of construction
Daily News
November 23, 2020
Dismantle this law: New York’s Scaffold Law diminishes affordable housing supply by driving up the cost of construction
Citizens Budget Commission
November 16, 2020
Groups Urge Governor to Consider Reform of Scaffold Law
Citizens Budget Commission
November 16, 2020
Groups Urge Governor to Consider Reform of Scaffold Law
New York Construction Report
October 30, 2020
NYCDOB: Work site injuries decline 20% as more than 100,000 construction site safety training cards issued
New York Construction Report
October 30, 2020
NYCDOB: Work site injuries decline 20% as more than 100,000 construction site safety training cards issued
Commercial Observer
October 27, 2020
New York Trying to Find Labor and Construction Volume Balance.
Commercial Observer
October 27, 2020
New York Trying to Find Labor and Construction Volume Balance.
REBNY
October 21, 2020
As New York Continues to Lose Hundreds of Millions in Tax Revenue Due to Historic Decline in Real Estate Sales, New REBNY Report Shows Broker Confidence Hit Record Low for 3rd Consecutive Quarter.
Crain's New York Business
October 21, 2020
Cuomo extends commercial eviction ban through Jan. 1
REBNY
October 21, 2020
As New York Continues to Lose Hundreds of Millions in Tax Revenue Due to Historic Decline in Real Estate Sales, New REBNY Report Shows Broker Confidence Hit Record Low for 3rd Consecutive Quarter.
Crain's New York Business
October 21, 2020
Cuomo extends commercial eviction ban through Jan. 1
REBNY
October 15, 2020
The Real Estate Board of New York Reports Investment and Residential Sales Volume Dropped Nearly 50 Percent Since September 2019, Resulting in Loss of Tens of Millions of Dollars in New York City and State Tax Revenue.
REBNY
October 15, 2020
The Real Estate Board of New York Reports Investment and Residential Sales Volume Dropped Nearly 50 Percent Since September 2019, Resulting in Loss of Tens of Millions of Dollars in New York City and State Tax Revenue.
Insurance Journal
October 8, 2020
Calls for Reform Revived Over More Than A Century Old New York Law.
Insurance Journal
October 8, 2020
Calls for Reform Revived Over More Than A Century Old New York Law.
Crain's New York Business - OP ED
October 2, 2020
It’s time to fix New York’s dysfunctional construction regulations.
Construction Dive
October 2, 2020
New York contractors ask Gov. Cuomo to repeal state Scaffold Law
Construction Dive
October 2, 2020
New York contractors ask Gov. Cuomo to repeal state Scaffold Law
Crain's New York Business - OP ED
October 2, 2020
It’s time to fix New York’s dysfunctional construction regulations.
Times Union
September 29, 2020
Business groups renew proposal to ditch New York's Scaffold Law.
Advocates say pandemic fiscal crisis requires end to statute that boosts insurance costs.
Times Union
September 29, 2020
Business groups renew proposal to ditch New York's Scaffold Law.
Advocates say pandemic fiscal crisis requires end to statute that boosts insurance costs.
Commercial Observer
June 25, 2020
Construction Groups Worry About MTA Freezing Spending Amid Budget Crisis.
Commercial Observer
June 25, 2020
Construction Groups Worry About MTA Freezing Spending Amid Budget Crisis.
NYREJ
June 21, 2020
Scaffold Law Reform Coalition and the New York City Special Riggers Association request moratorium on Scaffold Law as state strives to reopen.
NYREJ
June 21, 2020
Scaffold Law Reform Coalition and the New York City Special Riggers Association request moratorium on Scaffold Law as state strives to reopen.
Long Island Business News
August 20, 2019
Construction spending is up, but so are costs.
Long Island Business News
August 20, 2019
Construction spending is up, but so are costs.
Crain's New York Business - Letters to the Editor
January 17, 2019
Attacking scaffold law is not the way to cut insurance costs.
Jessica Ramos
Gary LaBarbera
Crain's New York Business - Letters to the Editor
January 17, 2019
Attacking scaffold law is not the way to cut insurance costs.
Jessica Ramos
Gary LaBarbera
Crain's New York Business - Ask the Expert
December 31, 2018
NYC building boom creates new challenges.
Crain's New York Business - Ask the Expert
December 31, 2018
NYC building boom creates new challenges.
Habitat
August 18, 2018
Scaffold Law Bumped This Project’s Insurance Tab by 557 Percent.
Habitat
August 18, 2018
Scaffold Law Bumped This Project’s Insurance Tab by 557 Percent.
Construction Dive
August 2, 2018
Critics blame NYC's scaffold law for rocketing insurance fees.
Construction Dive
August 2, 2018
Critics blame NYC's scaffold law for rocketing insurance fees.
Crain's New York Business
July 30, 2018
Critics blame scaffold law for megaproject's insurance costs ballooning 557%.
Crain's New York Business
July 30, 2018
Critics blame scaffold law for megaproject's insurance costs ballooning 557%.
REBNY
October 25, 2017
New York’s Scaffold Law holds property owners, employers and contractors strictly liable for all gravity-related construction accidents. Enacted in 1885, it is among the oldest laws in the state and an ever-present reminder of the need for New York to modernize its laws to reflect new realities.
REBNY
October 25, 2017
New York’s Scaffold Law holds property owners, employers and contractors strictly liable for all gravity-related construction accidents. Enacted in 1885, it is among the oldest laws in the state and an ever-present reminder of the need for New York to modernize its laws to reflect new realities.
Crain's New York Business - Opinion
January 30, 2017
Design-build, yes, but reform scaffold law, too.
Crain's New York Business - Opinion
January 30, 2017
Design-build, yes, but reform scaffold law, too.
Commercial Observer
November 30, 2016
Raising Hell.
A very old and very costly law (whch many people hate) keeps the city covered in scaffolding, but don't expect it to change.
Commercial Observer
November 30, 2016
Raising Hell.
A very old and very costly law (whch many people hate) keeps the city covered in scaffolding, but don't expect it to change.
AGC New York State
September 25, 2016
Proof that “Scaffold Law” doesn’t work.
Crain’s photo shows crews take risks. Yet only employers are punished.
AGC New York State
September 25, 2016
Proof that “Scaffold Law” doesn’t work.
Crain’s photo shows crews take risks. Yet only employers are punished.
The Central New York Business Journal
January 16, 2015
The Scaffold Law proof of New York's ongoing hostility towards business and common sense.
The Central New York Business Journal
January 16, 2015
The Scaffold Law proof of New York's ongoing hostility towards business and common sense.
New York Building Congress
November 1, 2014
Debate Continues Over New York State Labor Law 240:
The Scaffold Law.
The Lines Are Drawn Again.
The battle to reform or repeal Labor Law 240, commonly referred to as the Scaffold Law, has been raging for years. But now, both sides are stepping up advocacy and lobbying efforts, thinking this may be the time for action in Albany.
New York Building Congress
November 1, 2014
Debate Continues Over New York State Labor Law 240:
The Scaffold Law.
The Lines Are Drawn Again.
The battle to reform or repeal Labor Law 240, commonly referred to as the Scaffold Law, has been raging for years. But now, both sides are stepping up advocacy and lobbying efforts, thinking this may be the time for action in Albany.
NYREJ
August 11, 2014
Scaffold Law reform critical to attract more general liability insurance carriers in New York.
NYREJ
August 11, 2014
Scaffold Law reform critical to attract more general liability insurance carriers in New York.
NYREJ
October 28, 2013
Labor Law: Proposed changes to Labor Law 240: Defeated without a vote in the legislature.
NYREJ
October 28, 2013
Labor Law: Proposed changes to Labor Law 240: Defeated without a vote in the legislature.
Habitat
April 25, 2013
What Condo Boards Need Know to Be Protected Under the Scaffold Law.
Habitat
April 25, 2013
What Condo Boards Need Know to Be Protected Under the Scaffold Law.
Habitat
April 9, 2013
All Fall Down: How Labor Law 240, the 'Scaffold Law,' Even Applies Indoors.
Habitat
April 9, 2013
All Fall Down: How Labor Law 240, the 'Scaffold Law,' Even Applies Indoors.
Crain's New York Business
March 17, 2013
Builders, insurers stepping up effort to dismantle scaffold law.
Crain's New York Business
March 17, 2013
Builders, insurers stepping up effort to dismantle scaffold law.