Nutter Responds To Latest Twist In Fatal Center City Building Collapse Probe
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Mayor Michael Nutter is promising answers to lingering questions about last month's tragic building collapse on Market Street, and specifically whether the demolition company falsified its reports on the presence of asbestos.
The company that is now clearing debris at the site of the collapse has reportedly brought in an asbestos removal firm. That has rekindled questions to Mayor Nutter about what the original demolition company had told the city about asbestos before the work began.
"We'll get to the bottom of it," the mayor responded today. "My understanding is that the company had submitted whatever documents they had submitted that are required. We'll figure out what the discrepancy is and see what the story is."
The mayor's office has yet to release the original demolition permit, which is said to have stated there was no asbestos at the site.
Nutter says his withholding of that document is due of the ongoing criminal probe.
"Our general view is that we did not want to do anything that might negatively impact or impair the grand jury that has been impaneled. And we took a very strict view," he said today.
The collapse at 22nd and Market on June 5th killed six people in the neighboring thrift shop (see related story). An equipment operator now faces involuntary manslaughter charges (related story), and Nutter has promised regulatory changes (related story).
