Brooklyn building collapse press conference

[0:00] I'm Abrams Gerber. I'm from JCRC. And on behalf of JCRC and Jewish Partners UJA and Crown Heights [0:06] Jewish Community Council, The Bridge, and others, we're very sorry to be here today but glad that we [0:11] can represent and be here with our friends and partners from throughout Brooklyn and New York. [0:16] I wanted to share a prayer that is traditional in the Jewish community. First, I wanted to say [0:25] our hearts go out to the families of those who were lost in this tragedy and our prayers go out [0:31] to those who have been injured and fighting to recover and all those who have been impacted by [0:35] this terrible incident. This prayer is called the Hachki Venu prayer and it goes as such. Grant, [0:40] O God, that we lie down in peace and raise us up, O our guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the [0:47] shelter of your peace. Guide us with your good counsel for your name's sake. Be our help. Shield [0:53] and shelter us beneath the shadow of your wings. Defend us against injury, hunger, displacement, [0:59] and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For you, God, watch over us and deliver us. For you, God, [1:06] are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming to life and peace evermore. Amen. [1:13] Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. My name is Assemblymember Rodnice B. Short-Hermlin [1:27] and I represent this community along with Senator Kevin Parker and Councilmember Farrell Lewis. [1:36] I want to thank everyone for being here. It is very triggering for all of us. This is a very emotional [1:43] time. We do have members of the family who are here that you're going to hear from. We have a number of [1:49] elected officials here. We have our council speaker here, Julie Menon. You will be hearing from our Attorney [1:56] General Letitia James first. We also have Assemblymember Jamie Williams. We also have, [2:05] we have God Squad. We have a number of clergy members that we will announce. We also have a number of unions, [2:15] like the building trades and the carpenters. We have the Board President's office here, Deputy Board [2:21] President and Council. We have Community Board 17 here. We also want to thank, first of all, first and foremost, [2:29] Flatbush YMCA. Let's give them a round of applause for being, being the center, being the center of healing here. [2:43] And being the, one of the first responders. We want to thank, of course, FDNY, the Mayor's Office, New York City OEM. [2:50] We want to thank the 67th precinct, I see our commanding officer Beauvoir here. We want to thank Brooklyn South, [2:57] Precinct 70th, clergy councils, Pastor Thornton. We want to thank also Pastor Alfred Joseph, who you are here, [3:07] who also opened up his, his church to their families. So we have so many other people to thank, [3:15] that we will thank. But for now, we would like to hear from our fighting, our, our representative, [3:24] who's been such a force in this nation, advocating for all the people, our Attorney General, Letitia James. [3:34] I want to thank, um, my colleagues in government, Assemblywoman, my niece, um, Bishat Hermelin, [3:46] Senator Parker, and of course, Councilmember Farrah Lewis, and all of my colleagues who are here [3:51] today and this afternoon. I also want to thank all of the clergy and all of the community members who are [3:57] standing with us today. What happened here was a tragedy. I'm praying for all of those who lost [4:04] their lives and the families who are grieving them at this point. I'm praying for those who were injured [4:12] and for the loved ones who are by their sides as they recover. I want to thank the first responders [4:19] who rushed to help and specifically FDNY, um, who basically thought of others before they thought of [4:27] themselves, who put their lives on the line, who search for hours for survivors. We owe a debt of [4:35] gratitude to FDNY and we want to thank them as we stand here today. All of us, uh, here take building [4:43] safety very seriously and we are committed to making sure workers have the training and equipment [4:50] they need. And if the Department of Buildings requires additional resources to hire more inspectors, [4:58] all of the elected officials here will support that budget increase. It's important that owners and [5:05] contractors follow safety rules and that when a worker sees something dangerous they can speak up [5:13] and be heard without being disciplined. The Department of Buildings will conduct a full investigation [5:21] into this tragedy and my colleague, the district attorney of Brooklyn, Eric Gonzalez, [5:28] has also indicated to me that he is also launching an investigation into this incident. And if any of [5:36] those individuals seek the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General, we are available. [5:42] The families in this community deserve answers about what led to this collapse. And I have faith that [5:49] the investigators will follow the facts and that anyone found responsible will be held to account. In the days [5:57] ahead, I ask all of us to keep these families in our prayers and to keep showing up for them. What I am [6:06] concerned about most at this point in time are scammers. We've already seen individuals take advantage of [6:13] these families. Whenever there is a tragedy, sharks come out. And I want all of those criminals to know [6:21] that we will monitor the internet, social media, and if you take advantage of any of the families that have [6:28] been injured or any of the families who have lost loved ones, you will be held to account. As we go [6:36] forward, we must keep insisting on safe job sites and safe buildings, not only here in Brooklyn, [6:43] but all throughout the city of New York. And last but not least, a number of individuals have said that [6:49] the families need X, Y, and Z. They need supplies. What we need to do is set up a fund and hopefully the [6:56] mayor's office or the borough president's office can set up a fund for these families who are [7:02] struggling right now to make ends meet. I thank again all of my colleagues. I've come here again [7:10] to offer the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General and to let everyone know that we stand with [7:16] them as we seek safety for the workers, safety for New York City, safety for all residents, and we pray [7:27] for those who were impacted by this terrible tragedy. Thank you. And now we would like to hear from our [7:40] New York City Council Speaker Julie Menon. I first of all want to thank Assemblymember [7:49] Rodnice Bouchard-Hermalin, Senator Parker, and my colleague, Councilmember Farrah Lewis, [7:55] for organizing this important press conference and for being on the ground. I also want to thank all the [8:02] labor unions who are here, all of the workers, my other colleagues in government, and our faith-based [8:07] leaders. You are seeing a real unity coming together. But most importantly, our hearts go out to the [8:13] family members. Their grief, their loss, their tragedy is truly unspeakable. And for them to be able to come [8:22] here today to muster the courage to be able to speak to us is truly extraordinary and unbelievably moving. [8:31] These families who lost loved ones were co-workers. They were cousins. They were roommates. They were [8:37] sons. They were daughters. They were children. They were Juan Salvada and Gabriel Suguncia and two cousins who [8:45] lived together. Mamadou Nadaye and Mamadou Barry. They were Nicole Salvada and Kevin Reyes, another set of [8:56] young cousins. They were Edgar Sapan, a construction worker who has a wife and a six-year-old son. They were [9:05] Jose Caguna, who would pick up his four-year-old son from preschool and whose wife is expecting a second child [9:15] soon. May we know their names today and remember their names always. We are thinking about the [9:22] families that grew up with them and the families that they were going to build. We will ensure that [9:29] their names are never forgotten. We also will ensure that we strengthen the building codes, the building [9:38] rules and regulations. Right now the building department has an eight to nine percent vacancy rate. [9:44] We must and we will ensure that every single one of those positions is immediately filled and as our [9:52] Attorney General said, if the building department needs more resources, more inspectors, we will make [9:59] sure that that happens. This is an unspeakable, horrendous tragedy and we must meet this moment. Thank you. [10:14] Good morning everyone. Good morning. [10:17] I want to thank everyone for being here today. Attorney General James, Speaker Menon, [10:24] Assemblymember Beshort Hermelin, Senator Kevin Parker, our colleagues in government, our faith leaders, [10:31] advocates and most importantly the families impacted by the Flatbush building collapse. Since Wednesday [10:39] afternoon our community has been living through a nightmare. At least eight of our neighbors are gone, [10:48] including two children ages nine and ten whose lives were stolen far too soon. I have been in direct [10:56] contact with the young husband and his six month pregnant wife that was pulled alive from the rubble by the sheer heroism of the FDNY first responders. [11:10] While we are praying over her recovery, he shared with me yesterday that they have roommates who remain [11:17] unaccounted for that were found yesterday. It is painful to, is a painful reminder that these families lost everything. [11:50] To everyone and every family member displaced from 1321 to 1327 Flatbush Avenue. [12:07] We are praying for you and we stand by you. My office is here alongside my colleagues and city agencies and community partners to make sure you get the shelter you need, the relief you need, and the resources you need to build back again. [12:31] At the same time, grief without accountability is not enough. Buildings do not simply collapse without systemic failures, especially when records show a building with nearly a hundred open violations sitting next to an ex- [12:54] Excavation site cited for violating a stop work order. [13:13] I welcome the Brooklyn District Attorney's criminal investigation into this tragedy. [13:18] I continue to demand aggressive oversight into this matter to ensure every negligent owner, contractor, and entity is held fully accountable under the law. [13:30] I want to step aside and turn the microphone over to one of the impacted families today so you can hear directly from them. [13:42] I now call up the Coleman family. [13:46] We will be hearing from Zariah, who's going to speak about her experience. [13:57] So basically, when I first came home, I realized, when I first came home and I see, when I first came home and I see what happened to my house, the first thing I thought about was my cat. [14:15] He was inside there and I tried to go under the tape to try to go. [14:19] I was going to go get him, but I realized I didn't know what I was going to face. [14:24] And before all this happened, we used to feel shakes in our building. [14:27] Like, it used to start shaking when they was working and stuff. [14:30] So, and I just really hope they come and get our cat because he's inside the house right now. [14:36] And they said they were inside the house to try to find him, but I don't think they really did. [14:41] He's hiding from them and I think he's scared of him. [14:44] And I just really want them to come and get our cat. [14:47] And they put a lot of lives in danger. [15:06] All right. [15:07] I want to speak about the situation. [15:09] Like, since, like, in two weeks, they try to do the construction. [15:14] I tell them that, like, the construction where they do it, like, the kid was sleeping and they still doing the construction. [15:22] Nobody didn't listen to guys. [15:24] That's the situation happened. [15:26] And my wife is still crying about her cat. [15:30] And the police, like, they didn't do the job. [15:33] Like, they let the people have the damage going inside. [15:38] They're pushing the boy and to come out. [15:41] And their family was enjoying, like, they beat and traumatized all that. [15:46] And the police didn't do the job, too. [15:49] I wanted to, I need the care for my wife. [15:51] And there were other people I want to, you guys, you make sure to go to the hospital, speak with their family all day. [15:58] That's all that I have to say for you guys. [16:01] Thank you. [16:09] We thank you for being brave and coming here to share your most tragic experience. [16:20] And now we would like to have another family member to come up, Ms. Lawrence Coleman, who also was there when everything happened. [16:32] And her husband right now is in the hospital as he was traumatized, videotaped the whole thing, and he's stable. [16:42] But we want to thank Ms. Coleman, Ms. Lawrence, for, again, having strength to come here to tell the world how she's feeling. [16:54] Ms. Lawrence. [16:55] This feeling is indescribable. [17:05] I am alive for her life. I was right there. [17:12] This was a very traumatic experience to see everything crumble down in front of us. [17:20] Just to be in a state of shock, you'd be like, oh my goodness, what is going on here? [17:24] I took the day off that day. He went to work. [17:29] I was tired, so I called in from work and I told him that I need to rest because I had a headache. [17:34] And I usually sleep in the dark, so I kept telling myself that you have to go to rest. [17:40] You took the day off, so go to rest. [17:43] And I don't know what it is. I just couldn't go to sleep. [17:46] And about 3 o'clock sometime, I said, go. You have to go to sleep. [17:49] And I went in the room and I turned off the lights and I'm a hard sleeper. [17:54] So I think I dozed off. But during this whole time, these people have been demolishing or doing whatever they were doing next door to us. [18:04] It was traumatizing. [18:05] They were doing construction. [18:06] They were doing construction next door. [18:07] It was too much. [18:08] You would hear that thump and that movement in your soul, whether it's 5 o'clock may start in the morning. [18:13] And that thump, boom! And you would just jump. [18:17] And you try to get used to it, but it wasn't normal. [18:20] And I kept saying to my neighbors and my husband, something is wrong. [18:24] Because they would turn on that hydrant, maybe 8 o'clock, I'm 7.30, I leave out or something. [18:31] And you would go out and you would see that hydrant turn on. [18:35] When you come back, it could be 9, it's still running in there. [18:38] We don't know why. [18:39] Something was just not right. [18:42] So again, when I finally dozed off and I heard that thump, [18:45] I try to ignore it because I get accustomed to it a little, I tell myself. [18:49] But some things say, open your eyes, because I turned off my light. [18:53] And when I opened my eyes, it was just light everywhere. [18:56] And I kept saying, what is this? [18:58] So I got up and I couldn't believe I was seen outside of my back. [19:03] So as that's happening, she frantically calls me. [19:06] But because I just arrived at work, I picked up my phone and saw several missed calls from her. [19:12] I dropped everything and clicked on my phone and she's staring at me. [19:17] And I'm like, my love, what's going on? [19:19] She stood there in a state of shock. [19:22] And I said, tell me, what's going on? [19:24] As soon as she turned the camera around, I just dropped everything and raced out of work and ran straight home to her. [19:31] I ran through red light one way just to race to her. [19:34] And I made it home to her. [19:36] This is us. [19:38] And, you know, as they're taking me and evacuating me from the building, I could see my neighbors coming out and check us. [19:46] They were already dead. [19:48] That's crazy. [19:49] Like, what happened? [19:51] We didn't deserve this. [19:52] We didn't bother these people. [19:54] They killed us. [19:55] They came to kill us. [19:56] And it's like, why? [19:58] You know, I used to see a Spanish family. [20:02] They would come out all the time. [20:05] They're a large group. [20:06] And before, you know, I used to be, because she was fussy about the children. [20:11] And I just learned about them and would just move out the way and let them go to work or school. [20:16] And when I saw that lady and I didn't see the family, I knew it was them and they're gone. [20:25] We don't wish this experience on anybody. [20:30] Let alone for this to happen to us. [20:32] I don't know if this is God's way of saying something, but. [20:37] Oh, I'm done. [20:39] I don't want to. [20:40] As you see, she's very. [20:42] Oh, I do. [20:43] It's like it hits. [20:44] We don't wish this on anybody. [20:46] We don't wish this on anybody. [20:49] So it's this is something that, you know, it's going to be unforgettable. [20:54] You know, guys, I'm strong. [20:56] I'm a strong person. [20:57] I promise you. [20:58] But I think what breaks me every day becomes realer. [21:04] You starting to see. [21:05] You know, I can look up in that building and I can see my stuff, but I can't get it. [21:09] This is what I left out in. [21:11] This is what I have. [21:14] And this is all, this is all I have too. [21:16] I can see my stuff. [21:17] This is all we have. [21:18] I don't have an ID. [21:19] I don't have an ID. [21:20] No nothing. [21:21] We don't have anything. [21:22] We don't have anything. [21:25] But we are alive by the greatness of God. [21:28] And after all this, I ended up, I ended up collapsing and passing out and had to go to the hospital. [21:35] Because one minute everything is fine. [21:37] When I woke up, I just see the paramedics and EMTs in front of me. [21:41] I'm like, what's going on here? [21:42] They said, you passed out. [21:43] And I said, really? [21:44] Just like that. [21:45] So by the grace of God, we okay. [21:50] Thank goodness. [21:51] But this is going to be an unforgettable experience. [21:55] And with all the lives lost, our hearts go out. [21:58] But to us remaining survivors, it's tough. [22:03] And my immediate neighbors, Shemina, Ida Lam, Akeem, Soraya, we made it out the building. [22:12] Yes. [22:13] We made it out the building. [22:14] Yes. [22:15] We're all survivors. [22:16] We're alive. [22:17] Thank God. [22:18] Thank the Lord. [22:21] My name, Mr. James Alexander Williams. [22:24] And this is my wife, Kyola Lawrence. [22:27] We're the survivors of the building collapse. [22:30] We'll give you the fulfillment. [22:31] Thank you so much. [22:32] Thank you. [22:33] Thank you. [22:34] Thank you. [22:36] Thank you. [22:37] Thank you. [22:38] Thank you. [22:40] As we continue to call upon families, I will tell you. [22:51] That day, we saw FDNY pulling out a pregnant woman. [22:58] And we were there consoling her husband, who kept asking, where is my wife? [23:09] Where is my wife? [23:10] She's in there. [23:11] And I felt that no one was listening to him. [23:14] He felt that no one was listening to him. [23:18] FDNY was working, was working on it. [23:23] And you've heard the story of many black women dying, giving birth. [23:27] That was triggering for me, having lost a child. [23:32] She survived. [23:37] And her husband is here today to come to speak to us. [23:44] And the family. [23:47] Tierno Ba, Ibrahima Ba, we want to call on you. [23:56] And the Guinea Alliance for Families, we want to call on you. [24:03] Good morning, everybody. [24:34] My name is Mamadou Saliu Diallo. [24:37] I'm the president of the Guinea community in New York. [24:39] We call it Guinea community of America. [24:42] On my right here, we have the family of the two deceased. [24:48] Mamadou Boibari and Mamadou Boibari. [24:52] This is the family. [24:54] On my left, we have Mr. Mohamed Mouktar Balde, who is the husband of the pregnant lady that was rescued. [25:03] And I'm here, I'm speaking on their behalf. [25:07] And if the husband would like to add something, he will speak in French. [25:13] In my religion, we always start by saying . [25:19] It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we address the tragic building collapse in Brooklyn on November 11, 2026, [25:31] which has claimed the life of several individuals and left others injured. [25:37] Among those who lost their lives are two young Guinean nationals, Mamadou Boibari and Mamadou Boibari. [25:46] These two young men came to the United States less than five years ago in pursuit of better opportunities and brighter future. [25:56] Sadly, their lives have been caught short by this devastating tragedy. [26:05] We also confirmed that another Guinean national, Mrs. Fatoumata Ba, was among the injured victims. [26:14] Mrs. Ba is pregnant and by the grace of God, both she and her unborn baby are alive. [26:22] However, she sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical care at the hospital. [26:30] We prayed for her recovery and the safe delivery of her baby. [26:35] On behalf of the Guinean community in New York, we respectfully call upon the city of New York, relevant agency cities, [26:44] and our elected officials to extend their support and assistance to the grieving families of the two young men and all who lost their lives. [26:55] Especially, we ask for their intervention in facilitating the travel of the parents of the disease from Guinea to the United States, [27:04] so they can be present to honor their sons and participate in their final funeral rites. [27:11] We also call upon our elected representative and the appropriate authority to ensure that this tragic incident received the necessary attention, [27:25] that its circumstances are thoroughly investigated, and that the families and victims receive the support and answers they deserve. [27:36] Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by this horrific tragedy. [27:43] We extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. [27:49] May the soul of the departed rest in peace, and may God grant strength, comfort, and healing to those who are affected. [28:00] The Guinean community in New York stands in solidarity with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted. [28:08] May Allah grant the deported eternal peace, and grant the injured, speedy, and complete recovery. [28:15] Do you want to say something? [28:17] Yes. [28:18] The husband would like to speak in French. [28:22] Good. [28:23] I am Balde Mamad Mokhtar. [28:30] I am from Guinea, Conakry. [28:31] I am from Guinea. [28:32] I am from Guinea. [28:34] I am from Guinea. [28:35] I am going to add a little bit to what the President of Guinea, the United States, [28:41] has just said. [28:43] I am the husband of Fatoumata Bintaba, who was saved by the tragic, in the tragic, in the building [28:57] where we live, at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. [29:08] It is today, with the heart serrated, that I hold my hand in front of you to explain this event. [29:28] The last Saturday, after having talked to my wife, I was already left to do this for us. [29:43] Five minutes after I came out of the building, the opening was passed. [29:52] At the moment I came out, we lived with two young men, all from Guinea and Conakry, [30:06] whom I welcome my memory today. [30:11] The first one called Mamad Mokhtar, and the second one called Mamad Mokhtar. [30:19] We lived in the same apartment. [30:22] After having given my wife to go to do this for us, I found Mamad Mokhtar was cooking. [30:31] Mamad Mokhtar was asleep. [30:41] At the moment I came out, I opened the door. [30:46] In the apartment where we lived, Mamad Mokhtar had already done this in line, [30:53] and the guy made the delivery for him. [30:57] When I opened the door, the guy who came to deliver, asked Mamad Mokhtar. [31:07] He said, yes, I call it Mamad Mokhtar. [31:09] He said to Mamad Mokhtar. [31:11] After I called Mamad Mokhtar, who was finishing his kitchen. [31:15] I said to Mamad Mokhtar, you have got some supplies here. [31:22] After he turned the door and said, Tokora, your supplies are coming. [31:28] Mamad Mokhtar was asleep. [31:31] He woke up. [31:32] He woke up. [31:34] He woke up. [31:35] I saw him in my heart. [31:36] He was wearing his clothes. [31:38] To come and take his clothes. [31:45] When I opened the door, Mamad Mokhtar took his clothes. [31:51] He was taken. [31:53] And five minutes after I was out of the building, the blow was happened. [32:09] I went and continued to do my assas. [32:13] When I returned, I found the police police police, the police, and all the people were gathered [32:24] to see how they saved the people who were in the building. [32:29] After I turned the door, I asked what happened here. [32:34] I thought it was an accident of circulation. [32:36] But unfortunately, a woman told me that there was an enneboulement. [32:40] When she told me that there was an enneboulement, I didn't feel where I was. [32:44] Because I know that our building is a frontier with this site. [32:49] I said that my wife is inside, my friends are inside. [32:53] When I returned, I asked. [32:57] I didn't see my wife. [32:59] I didn't see my neighbors. [33:03] I didn't feel where I was. [33:05] I didn't know where I was. [33:06] And I thank the firefighters, the police police, the Croix-Rouge, [33:23] and all the people who invested in the building in the building. [33:31] And I salute the memory of all the people who died in this tragic moment. [33:37] I thank you all. [33:39] I'm going to be quick. [33:47] I'm just going to translate a little bit what he said. [33:51] He explained the last moment that he had with the two young men who passed away. [33:57] Five minutes prior to this incident, he left the apartment, [34:04] telling his wife that he's going to buy groceries. [34:07] And he left the two young men. [34:09] One of them was on the couch. [34:11] The other one was cooking. [34:13] As he opened the door, he met a delivery man who was delivering something that Mr. Njai had bought online. [34:24] He asked, who is Mamadou? [34:26] He said, I am Mamadou. [34:27] But he said, Mamadou Njai. [34:30] And then he called Mamadou Njai to come pick up the delivery. [34:33] And right after he left, five minutes later, on his way back, he found out this tragedy had happened. [34:44] And he started asking questions because he knew he left his pregnant wife inside our apartment and two other friends. [34:52] That's when he started asking. [34:54] As they say, my wife is in there. [34:56] My wife is pregnant. [34:57] Where's my wife? [34:58] He didn't know what to do. [35:00] Thank you. [35:01] And he appreciate. [35:02] He thanks each and everyone, especially the elected officials who have initiated this press conference. [35:07] And the firefighters. [35:09] Thank you. [35:10] He's the uncle of the two young men who passed away. [35:15] Thank you. [35:19] Thank you. [35:21] Thank you for everybody for being here this morning. [35:29] My name is Jalo Mamadou. [35:31] I'm the uncle for two disease, Mamadou Njai and Mamadou Njai. [35:36] They've gone very kid, but God gave and God take it. [35:42] We don't have a lot to say. [35:46] All we ask the Gideon community and the city is useful for the justice. [35:55] All we ask, it is the justice we ask for the negligence or anything that happened there. [36:03] The family is very sad today. [36:06] It's a very painful disease we have today. [36:11] We have a broken heart. [36:16] But what we can do, that God did, that God willing. [36:21] We as Muslims, any tragedy we see, we give to God. [36:27] But we ask the city and the Gideon community to stand for us to have justice for this tragedy. [36:37] I have here the brother, direct brother from Mamadou Njai. [36:42] It's a big brother. [36:45] Hello, everybody, and thank you for coming. [36:50] We thank everybody. [36:52] Like my uncle said here, we are behind the city and the community, Guinea, for everything. [37:00] Yeah. [37:01] And we thank everybody. [37:03] Everybody. [37:04] Thank you so much. [37:06] Thank you. [37:07] Thank you. [37:08] Stay here. [37:09] We have one more family member, Winston Sanchez, who's representing the Ecuadorian. [37:18] And we have Reverend Al Sharpton. [37:22] We also want to recognize President of the JCRC, Mark Traeger, who's here with us. [37:29] We'd like to call Al Sharpton, Reverend Al Sharpton. [37:33] Okay. [37:36] And we have Sanchez. [37:37] Sanchez is going to say a few words. [37:39] He represents the Ecuadorian construction workers who died. [37:44] I just want to say this. [37:47] In 2022, the State Assembly passed Carlos Law. [37:52] It was about an Ecuadorian construction worker who was instructed to go into the pit, and he died. [38:02] And his family was only limited to $10,000. [38:07] Since then, we've worked really hard in making sure that we enforce safety in the construction site in the name of Carlos Law. [38:18] And that any developer or owner or general contractor who has a construction person who dies on site due to negligence are fined $300,000 to $500,000. [38:32] It's a bill that I sponsored that I hold very close to my heart. [38:36] And here, once again, another tragedy of Ecuadorians dying in a construction site. [38:45] Thank you. [38:47] Good morning, everyone. [38:48] It is a sad day, not only for the Ecuadorian community, but for many families here in New York City and in different countries. [38:58] It is a sad day because not only collapsed the building, it collapsed the lives of many relatives, brothers, fathers. [39:08] One of the wives is going to get birth on Sunday, never going to see the father of Luis Kawana. [39:16] That is what we hear today, not only in solidarity, but also demanding the authorities, the city, city officials to do more to protect our workers, [39:28] to protect our people, our residents. [39:31] And regardless of the immigration status, the life that doesn't cost $200,000 or $300,000. [39:39] It costs more because we build the greatest New York City, many Latinos daily. [39:48] But really people, developers, real estate, different construction companies, [39:53] they making a lot of money with the blood of many construction workers. [39:59] That it's unacceptable and hope the city on behalf of the families will do more to protect our construction workers. [40:08] I know, I'm also a construction worker as an electrician. [40:13] And I know how the mind looks out there. [40:16] So please, hopefully the authorities do more to protect our construction workers. [40:21] Thank you. [40:23] Good morning, I'm State Senator Kevin Parker, represent the 21st District here in Brooklyn. [40:35] Let me first just add my voice to those who are mourning the loss of these New Yorkers who were senselessly killed in what we see as a preventable accident. [40:50] And certainly, as you have seen, the impact is great for those who have lost people, but those who have survived it are also suffering a great deal as well. [41:03] We want to also thank Mayor Mondani and his entire government response to this. [41:15] We've had almost every major commissioner involved and deputy mayor in the community, on the ground, helping us with this response. [41:26] Certainly, I'm grateful to Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn DA, for bringing forth investigation and we hope that the proper criminal penalties will be doled out in this case. [41:40] And certainly, I'm looking forward to the assistance of the Attorney General who has joined us here today. [41:46] But it is my pleasure, I wish under better circumstances, [41:51] to bring back to a community that he knows very well, has lived here, has gone to school here, and someone who has been a champion for those who are in need. [42:05] Reverend Al Sharpton, the President of the National National Network. [42:10] Thank you, Senator Parker. [42:15] Let me say that we are facing in the city a moral challenge. [42:22] If we are in a city where authorities can grab people and say they're doing it to protect us, [42:31] and they're ICE workers, and grab innocent people and find out their status, [42:38] then why are we not in a city that we do not know that workers and residents are protected and inspected that would lead to this tragedy? [42:51] How do you ride past buildings that can collapse looking for migrants that are not here wrong, [42:58] but you can't find builders and those that work for developers that may have buildings that can collapse in the middle of the night? [43:07] This is a human catastrophe that most likely could have been avoided had we been as vigilant protecting the lives of those that were lost as we are grabbing people, [43:22] telling them to prove themselves to be in the country legal. [43:27] The fortunate part is that there are people that will stand up. [43:30] When Rodanice texted me and said she wanted me to come and [43:34] attorney El Fracker said, I'll represent, I said, no, I want to come myself. [43:39] We have the best attorney general in the United States. [43:43] I don't care who won another state on Tuesday. [43:46] We have a good district attorney that will get to the bottom of this. [43:51] Because this is an act that demands all of the human rights, civil rights and faith leaders to back law enforcement. [44:01] Because somebody felt that it was better for their profit line than for the lifeline of those that have been lost. [44:10] And we must find out who that is, if there are violations, and they should face that. [44:16] Yes, we must mourn at the funerals of this. [44:19] And when I heard this story, this man whose wife was pregnant. [44:23] This could have been any one of us. [44:25] This could have been anybody that watches your newscast. [44:31] We cannot tolerate that in the city of New York. [44:34] And I'm assured with those that are standing here, the city council president and [44:39] us councilwoman Farrar and others that it won't. [44:42] National Action Network is with you. [44:44] Whatever we need to do, we'll be there. [44:47] But I wanted to raise this to a human and civil rights issue and a moral challenge to this city. [44:53] This should not go with two or three days a morning and then we go on about our business. [44:58] Because we don't know where the next house could collapse and where the next developer will think they can cut corners. [45:05] Thank you. [45:06] And before we, we're going to have a couple of more things before we close out and take questions. [45:17] We do want to give acknowledgment to the New York Immigration Coalition, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, UJA, [45:24] JCRC, Africana, Little Haiti BK, Pastor Alfred Joseph, Hart 9-11 with Benjamin Pinchuski and the Elefthacaris, FDC, Flatbush Development Corporation, [45:37] The Bridge Multicultural Center with Marco Pell, [45:42] Gunica, New York, the Ghanaian Community of America. [45:49] We would like to now close out, but before, just two more families? [45:56] Okay. [45:58] I'm sorry. [45:59] Forgive me. [46:01] We have two more families here. [46:03] We have Mariama Jalo, Mama Duba, Fatuma Matadayalo, and they are here. [46:13] They are the cousins. [46:17] We're going to hear from them. [46:18] Then we're going to hear from Kendall, from the Flatbush YMCA, [46:23] and then we're going to close out with Alfred Joseph, Pastor Alfred Joseph. [46:30] Okay. [46:31] Hey, huh? [46:32] Okay, come. [46:33] I'll take that. [46:34] You. [46:35] I have to say goodbye. [46:40] My name is Ndiaa. [46:41] I will. [46:42] Come back to yourself. [46:43] Say goodbye. [46:44] The name is Maria Mjelo. [46:48] Hold on. [46:49] I'm a member of the great mother, [46:52] and my dear mother, her brother, [46:56] and my mother, her brother, and my mother, [46:58] and my daughter, and my dear brother. [47:01] My family, wife granddad, [47:03] and she lived in Ireland, [47:05] and she lived in Ireland, [47:08] Okay, she's Mariyama Diallo, also sister of the two deceased, as she's talking about [47:29] how sad the family is, and they were young kids. [47:35] They didn't know this would happen to them at the right time, it happened. [47:39] So they are very, very sad, and this is a very sad day for the family. [47:47] He used to live there with them. [47:49] Yes, uncle. [47:57] The Guinea embassies here, because the other person didn't want to ask. [48:31] Okay, but, all right. [48:37] We just wanted to announce the drop-off safety. [48:41] Okay, okay, may I have Kendall? [48:45] Kendall Charter. [48:46] Cardinal Charter? [48:47] The executive director. [48:48] Can the executive director come? [48:49] Can we have Mark Traeger from JCRC to come? [48:54] And can we have Pastor Alfred Joseph to come? [48:57] We're going to close out. [48:59] The public advocate is on his way, so when he comes in while we're taking questions, we'll have them see. [49:06] Come all the way up. [49:06] Kendall, then Mark Traeger, and then you'll close out. [49:10] And we want to also mention that we have drop-off location for CB17 at 4112 Farragut Avenue. [49:23] We have accepted items of masks, toiletries. [49:28] We're also doing this drop-off at Clarendon Road Church Alliance Tabernacle 3304 Clarendon, also Lennox Road Baptist Church, which is 1356 North Strand Avenue, also at the Multi-Bridge Cultural on Flatbush, and also here at Flatbush YMCA, we are only accepting gift cards as well as masks. [49:53] Okay, also the mayor's office has set up an emergency relief fund, so I would urge individuals to contribute money to this fund. [50:03] It's the emergency relief fund under the mayor of the city of New York, thank you. [50:06] All right. [50:08] Kendall? [50:11] And the Flatbush YMCA remains a beacon to the community. [50:14] Our doors are open to anyone to come in and support. [50:19] We're saddened by what has occurred in our community. [50:23] Our doors are remaining open, so any support that you can provide, certainly stop by. [50:29] We're here to support the community. [50:31] Thank you. [50:33] Mark? [50:34] Mark? [50:37] Before anybody goes. [50:39] Thank you, Assemblymember. [50:41] I just want to say, my name is Mark Traeger, CEO of JCRC New York, with here also our partners from UGA Federation of New York and One Crown Heights. [50:54] What happens on Flatbush Avenue reverberates down Surf Avenue in Coney Island, where I live. [51:01] It reverberates in the workplaces of all of our faith-based organizations and community organizations. [51:08] Whether it's JCRC, whether it's our Christian, Muslim, Catholic groups. [51:14] Because we are one New York. [51:17] These are not just some people whose lives were turned upside down. [51:22] These are our people. [51:23] These are our neighbors. [51:24] These are our families. [51:26] And I remember vividly after a super storm. [51:30] I remember vividly during a pandemic. [51:33] It was community people, grassroots people, organizations, local officials, clergy from all [51:39] faiths that rally together time and time again. [51:43] When they themselves are inundated with tragedy, their doors remain open. [51:49] That's who we are. [51:50] That's Brooklyn. [51:51] That's New York. [51:52] Today, we're about aid and comfort, but plus accountability. [51:58] Because justice makes sure that these families, these victims are cared for, but they also [52:03] get answers and accountability on behalf of everyone who is impacted. [52:07] The residents, the workers, the communities. [52:10] We're in solidarity with you today. [52:12] And yes, when the cameras leave, the needs don't go away. [52:17] We're going to be with you every step of the way. [52:20] In solidarity. [52:21] Thank you. [52:37] Thank you.