Here's the list of 40 White Plains, N.Y., parking garages that didn't file mandatory inspection reports
Dozens of parking garages in White Plains have been ticketed for failing to file mandatory inspection reports.
One of those garages suffered a partial collapse two weeks ago.
Garages owned by Metro-North Rail Road, the Dormitory Authority of the state of New York and the prestigious City Center complex are all on the list compiled by White Plains officials of 40 garage owners ticketed for failing to file required structural assessment reports.
The glaring oversight was discovered after the Oct. 15 collapse at the Westchester One garage. The fifth floor buckled and crushed cars on the floors below.
"A grave breach of trust"
Records show the White Plains Building Department issued permits for extensive repair work at Westchester One even though the building did not file mandatory inspection reports due in 2019, 2022 and 2025.
"Just because no one was injured doesn't mean there should be no accountability," said Anthony Fiorenza, president of the Rosedale Residential Association.
The association wants to know how the Building Department could allow dozens of garages to skip filing the required structural assessment reports.
"The city's apparent failure to enforce a basic public safety requirement is a grave breach of trust," the Rosedale Residential Association wrote.
"How 40 ... parking garages lacked inspections in the city of White Plains is beyond me, and that's the real reason we need accountability," Fiorenza said.
He's waiting for the city's response, and so is CBS News New York.
It's not clear how many garage owners failed to do inspections, or did inspections but failed to file the required report, but all 40 have been given violation notices, and court dates in November and December.
On Wednesday, the MTA told CBS News New York that even though White Plains issued it a "notice of violation" for not filing an inspection report, as a state agency it is exempt from provisions of the White Plains building code.
A spokeswoman said the Metro-North garage at North White Plains was inspected and certified "safe" in a report on Oct. 10 of this year. The MTA provided a copy of the report on Friday. It highlights minor issues and suggested repairs to be made over a 12 month period.
As for the parking garage at 110 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York told CBS News New York it is in the process of transferring the title to Westchester County, which operates the garage.
"Westchester County conducts its own inspections of our properties in accordance with recent changes to New York State law. The county is not required to file the inspection with the city pursuant to that change in state law," a county spokeswoman said. "We will work with the city of White Plains City of White Plains to correct the records."
