Illegal Billboard Collapses
January 18, 2012
Around Town – By Neal Tepel
On Friday January 13, 2012 an illegal billboard collapsed at 421 Meeker Avenue onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.The billboard caused a partial collapse of a building, a gas leak, and stalled traffic on the BQE. Council-member Stephen Levin (D-Williamsburg), who represents the area in which the billboard was located, issued the following statement in response to the incident.
Companies that hire non-union untrained personnel continually put New Yorkers in Danger.
"Yesterday's collapse of an illegal billboard on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway highlights the need for increased enforcement of outdoor advertising regulations in New York City. Luckily, no one was injured, but the collapse caused substantial damage to the highway and surrounding buildings. Advertisers have a responsibility to the public to adhere to the zoning and building code regulations that currently exist to keep New Yorkers safe," said Council-member Levin.
