Death on The

SATURDAY • MAY 22, 2004 Including The Bensonhurst Paper Brooklyn’s REAL newspapers Published every Saturday by Brooklyn Paper Publications Inc, 55 Washington Street, Suite 624, Brooklyn NY 11201. Phone 718-834-9350 • www.BrooklynPapers.com • © 2004 Brooklyn Paper Publications • 18 pages including GO BROOKLYN • Vol. 27, No. 20 BRZ • Saturday, May 22, 2004 • FREE DEATH ON THE JOB Laborer killed at illegal work site By Jotham Sederstrom Marine Partners LLC, the Yonkers-based The Brooklyn Papers owners of the development; Big Apple Devel- opment and Construction, the construction con- One worker was killed and three others tractor; and Pro-Weld Fabricators Corp., a weld- injured at a condominium under construc- ing subcontractor based in East New York, all tion in Bay Ridge when a shoddily con- received violations for work without a permit. structed balcony overhang gave way, drop- All three also received violations because the ping the men nearly 40 feet to the ground. balconies, each about 3 feet wide by 4 feet long, The tragedy, which unfolded shortly after 10 were extended from the building, rather than re- am on Thursday, drew violations from the cessed, as indicated in the plans submitted to the Buildings Department because contractors had Buildings Department, said Jennifer Givner, a commenced work despite an expired permit. A spokeswoman for the agency. second violation was given because the con- Calls to Jean DeLorenzo, a broker for the struction work did not conform to building condos, were not returned by press time. plans originally submitted to the department. “How come no one is checking on this?” asked The construction permit for the four-story community activist Victoria Hofmo, who opposes Bridgeview Condominiums expired in Febru- over-development in Bay Ridge. “Now I’m mad. ary, a Buildings Department spokesman said. Everybody loses except for the developer.” The accident happened as the men poured Hofmo and Councilman Vincent Gentile ear- concrete on the balcony frames at the rear of the lier this year released a report on zoning in Bay building at 9718 Fort Hamilton Parkway, on the Ridge and Dyker Heights that was incorporated corner of Marine Avenue. Police say that the into new plans unveiled last week by City Plan- weight of the concrete, and a loosely attached ning officials. In it, they criticize the mushroom- steel girder underneath, may have led to the top ing of condominiums while older homes are terrace’s collapse. razed. On Thursday, Gentile extended his condo- Killed in the collapse was Angelo Gun- lences to the families of the workers who were gasaca, an Ecuadorian who lived in Queens. He injured and the man who died, but also lamented was pronounced dead on arrival at Victory the developers responsible for the shoddy con- Memorial Hospital. struction. / Jori Klein Two other workers were rushed to Lutheran “This appears to be one more example of a / Jori Klein Medical Center’s trauma ward in critical condi- developer’s rush to get the building up as quick- tion, one was unconscious and the other suffered ly as possible in order to maximize profit, but at two broken legs and a neck injury. A fourth work- the expense of safety,” Gentile said in a prepared er reportedly jumped from the overhang onto the statement on Thursday. “The Department of The Brooklyn Papers The Brooklyn building’s roof and was not seriously harmed. Buildings seriously needs to examine its policies Papers The Brooklyn A balcony overhang collapsed at 9718 Ft. Hamilton Parkway Thursday morning, killing Someone in an adjoining building called police concerning oversight of these structures so these The boots of one of the construction workers was left be- one construction worker and injuring two others. after watching the man drop from the third floor. accidents don’t happen in the future.” hind on the street after paramedics cut them off. Missing Two more attacks at Lafayette HS By Jotham Sederstrom William Colton in efforts to break the troubled The Brooklyn Papers high school into three more manageable facili- man Following the third and fourth violent ties, each specializing in a single trade. Both De- attacks to plague Lafayette High School mocrats, and nearly 1,000 fed-up parents who since December, state Sen. Seymour signed a petition earlier this month, charge that, Lachman, a former Board of Education as is, the school is beyond salvation. president, lent his voice to a growing list “I don’t think that any school that can’t found of officials and parents advocating an function educationally should exist how it is. It overhaul of the once-respected school. should change,” said Lachman. “I’m not say- Lachman, who began his career as an educa- ing that breaking the school into two or three in bay THIS WEEKEND tor at Lafayette, joined forces with Assemblyman See LAFAYETTE on page 16 By Jotham Sederstrom The Brooklyn Papers A boater found the body of a Gravesend man missing since April floating in the bay Cops for troops Monday about half a mile from shore. The discovery marked a tragic end to a fran- tic search for the 22-year-old college student 68th Precinct collecting that right up to Monday had been waged by his family. supplies for military Brittain Stone The body of By Jotham Sederstrom Michael Mamakas, The Brooklyn Papers an artist in his final year at Kingsbor- Looking to outdo his own high standard, ough Community Long on talent a sergeant with the 68th Police Precinct College, was dis- By Lisa J. Curtis and Urban Divers. said this week that he hopes to collect even covered floating GO Brooklyn editor An exhibit of a wide variety of artworks by more than the 20 boxes of toiletries, mag- hundreds of artists, the Brooklyn Waterfront face down in Critically acclaimed talents and youth azines and food that he did last year for Gravesend Bay by Artists Coalition Pier Show 12 continues, and troops in Iraq. groups alike will strut their stuff on the will be on display in the warehouse at 499 Van the owner of a pri- Following a wildly successful gift drive last vate boat at 9:40 Beard Street Pier in Red Hook this Sat- Brunt St. from noon to 6 pm. Michael Mamakas urday, May 22, as part of the 10th annual The Arts Festival events take place from 1 pm November that netted everything from Pop Tarts am, on May 17, to sanitary wipes for more than 200 soldiers, Sgt. say police. A po- Red Hook Waterfront Arts Festival. to 5 pm at the Beard Street Pier, Van Brunt Among the troupes that will take the stage are Street at the Red Hook Channel, and the per- Larry Millus expects that this time around he and lice source said the badly decomposed body had other officers will harvest nearly double the relief. been in the water for as many as three weeks. the Urban Bush Women, Dance Wave Kids Com- formances are free. For more information, visit / Jori Klein pany and the Pee Wee Hoofers (pictured). The the Web sites www.dancetheatreetcetera.org or “All of us at the precinct are just grateful be- He was found with his wrists crossed over one cause we know that we’re safer because of another, as if they had been bound. band Heritage O.P., whose music has been heard www.bwac.org. in Broadway’s “The Lion King” and Marc A New York Water Taxi shuttle will run them,” said Millus, who has been stationed at “A lot of sadness,” his stepmother, Kathy Ma- the precinct for 13 years. “They’re the first line Levin’s 2001 film “Brooklyn Babylon,” will per- between Pier 63 Maritime at West 23rd makas, said through tears. “A lot of sadness. He of defense over there, just as we are over here.” form traditional African and modern music. Street in Manhattan and the arts fes- Papers The Brooklyn was a very young, talented artist. I used to love Already, he said, more than 15 boxes of The Waterfront Arts Festival also includes tival on May 22. For the New to watch him draw.” toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, baby pow- dance and beat-box workshops, storytelling and York Water Taxi schedule, visit Sgt. Larry Millus, outside the 68th Precinct Mamakas vanished around 5 pm on April 9, der, athlete’s foot spray, shampoo, hair condition- in Bay Ridge, holds a T-shirt showing sup- one block from his home on West 10th Street at hula-hoop performances as well as boat rides and www.nywatertaxi.com or call See TROOPS on page 8 Avenue U. He had laid out clothes on his bed for other activities offered by the Gowanus Dredgers (212) 287-2224. port for the troops in Iraq. the next day and left behind his cell phone and BEGINSPAGE ON 9 cash before stepping out to buy a pack of gum, said his grandmother, Virginia Mamakas. Police are investigating the death as a homi- bringing the cruise ship industry to conceived agenda to squeeze the cide. one or more of the Brooklyn docks working ship port out. The boater who discovered Mamakas’ body City tight-lipped on pier study will also meet the same fate, Sher- Results of that study, which com- called the Coast Guard who then notified the man said. munity members were led to be- NYPD Harbor Patrol. By Deborah Kolben will have a lot longer to wait. they will not release the results to for our internal use,” he said, adding That news came as a shock to lieve would be made public, were In the weeks following Mamakas’ disappear- The Brooklyn Papers Maybe, forever.

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