City council wants stricter oversight for elevator technicians

Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri said Monday he's supporting City Council legislation aimed at making elevators in the city safer.

Councilmen James Vacca (D-Bronx) and Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) plan to introduce bills Wednesday that would require new technicians working in the city to pass a licensing test, as well as requiring elevators to have additional safety features.

At a committee hearing Monday, council members were frustrated over the lack of oversight following recent accidents, including a Madison Avenue advertising executive who was crushed to death by an elevator last December. The city blamed the horrific fatality on a repairman's failure.

"We need to license people who work on a piece of equipment that literally holds your life in your hands," Vallone said.

Even so, total accidents were down 60% from 2007 to 2011, according to LiMandri. So far this year, there have been 12 accidents.

The Big Apple sees about two to five fatalities annually, LiMandri said.