On Sept. 25, a blue-ribbon commission appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter issued a report on the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections. The report was triggered by the collapse of a building during a demolition June 5, 2013, at 22nd and Market streets in Philadelphia. The building collapsed on an adjacent Salvation Army thrift store, killing six people and injuring 13. One of those killed was the daughter of the treasurer of Philadelphia who was in the thrift shop donating clothing. The demolition process on that building was licensed and overseen by L&I. I served as the executive director of the mayor’s commission.
After a 10-month investigation, the commission, consisting of 20 experts in construction and demolition, concluded that L&I was ill-conceived when created 50 years ago and has not fulfilled its basic function of public safety. It is mismanaged, with mixed missions and conflicting goals, the commission found. Few people interviewed by the commission members in numerous interviews had any positive comments about its operation or service to the public.
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