Public Employee Press

Fines and lawsuit for filthy court at 60 Centre St.

Conditions at 60 Centre St., the New York State Supreme Court in lower Manhattan, have gone from bad to worse. Ask New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, who just received the report — and the green light to file a lawsuit — on the state’s filthiest courthouse.

The health and safety violations racked up over the last two years still plague the limestone landmark. Exposed electrical wiring, asbestos and peeling paint mar the courthouse file rooms. Stagnant puddles of water flood the basement and breed mosquitoes as rats, roaches, water bugs and vermin roam.

The courthouse continues to accrue fines and penalties — to date over $325,000 — from the Public Employee Safety and Health unit of the state Labor Dept.

The union had raised a storm over the working conditions prompting two investigations and a final inspection in July by PESH, which had no recouse: Conditions compelled it to sue the Office of Court Administration to correct the violations at New York’s dirtiest courthouse.

“There has to be a major problem for the Labor Department to refer a case for litigation,” said Guille Mejia, a principal coordinator in the DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. “The OCA has had plenty of time to address the hazards at 60 Centre Street.”

The building’s landlord, the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services, continues to blame OCA, which leases the property, said Mejia. Neither agency will accept responsibility and make the repairs, she added.

“It’s outrageous that our members have to work under these conditions,” said Local 1070 President Cliff Koppelman. “The courthouse has racked up health and safety violations for years. The money OCA will pay in fines could have gone to repair the courthouse. It could have gone for raises for staff. It’s an embarrassing waste of tax dollars. It’s time management cleans up its act!”