By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un2repasbest010710.html
UNITED NATIONS, January 7 -- At the UN a "Notice of Asbestos Abatement" has gone up, announcing that drilling for asbestos pipe insulation will be conducted from January 8 through 10 on even numbers floors of the Secretariat tower facing the East River.
While the slated $2 billion Capital Master Plan renovation has begun, there are still people working in the building. On the 5th floor, for example, the UN's Medical Service remains in place, because its "swing space" on Second Avenue, above a liquor store, is not yet ready.
On the fourth floor some journalists remain. The outside Verizon telephone lines have not been moved to the cubicles above the library, the so-called whistleblower free zone where all phone conversation can be heard. Remaining facing the River are the New York Times, AP and Inner City Press.
On January 6 a team of UN officials and contractors came into Inner City Press' office, using their key, and said they would return from January 8 to 10. They will, according to an official, move desks and install a "little house" of sheet plastic. They will drill throw the wall to a metal pipe, from which they will remove asbestos. They say it will be safe, because the plastic house "will use negative pressure."
The goal is to build an elevator outside the building. It will be fastened with steel in through the windows (which will be replaced with plywood). Many say the UN should have waited until the Secretariat Building was actually empty, or should have planned better the availability of swing space, including with relocated Verizon lines.
This is, however, the UN. Although in New York, it claims exemption from local laws. It is immunte from lawsuits and health and safety regulation. Hence the drilling for asbestos in reporters' offices, right down the hall from what's now the UN's cafeteria. Inner City Press will remain reporting from these conditions as long as it can. Watch this site.
