Comments on: Itch And Switch, Plus: Visit Tonight, And Tell Us Another One

By: yahooy

yahooy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:45:27 +0000

I’m not interested in opinions, I’m interested in names. I want accountability for this tragedy. Who in their right mind would build a multi-dwelling housing unit with a kitchen adjacent to the only exit?

One entrance costs a lot less than two or more. Like the executive at Raybestos is alleged to have remarked when told that the asbestos in his brake pads production process was killing his employees and expensive ventilation was needed “… WOPS are cheaper than props.”

I want to know who approved the design. I want this person’s professional career adjusted accordingly.

By: town committee

town committee — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:10 +0000

Yahooy it would have gotten built but it would have better fire protection than what we have here. While the fire code is up to date it is really just a bare minimum. When PT and many other projects were built there was basically no fire code to speak of.
Connecticut follows NFPA 101 along with its own addendum to the national code. The Connecticut Code is stricter in many areas. When the Connecticut Code was put together MONEY entered the picture. Many people that put this code together do not come from areas where this type of housing is located (PT). These people also had very little practical firefighting experience. What they did in allowing 2nd floor windows to be used as a means of egress assumed that everyone would act in a calm and intelligent way and that everyone opening these windows would be an adult not some scared 4 or 5 year old.
Put in central station smoke and heat detectors and you will be affording these tenants a real chance to survive a fire.
There are many unanswered questions concerning this latest fire and tragedy. I hope someday to read the investigative report on this fire. Then I can offer a better option and opinion on this fire.

By: yahooy

yahooy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:11:16 +0000

An amazing city we live in. Any private development built to the PT specs would have never gotten approved. How on earth did that entire project get built with such little regard for safety? Let’s start finger-pointing right now and dig up the names of the people who pushed this through.

By: RedWhiteandBlue

RedWhiteandBlue — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:58:52 +0000

One thing that could be looked at are escape ladders in each apartment. They have a product now that gets built directly into the wall, either at the time of construction or as a retro-fit after construction. It might be worth looking into this as a way to secure the units at P.T. It could become part of the City’s fire prevention strategy.

By: Big Pussy

Big Pussy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:11:02 +0000

Didn’t Grogins say something to the effect that she was going to bring home more monies to her district in her first year than Keeley did for his 20+ years? How’s she doin’?

By: Up On Bridgeport

Up On Bridgeport — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:27:35 +0000

There has been and will be a lot of political posturing on the PT fire. This is not meant to discount the need and dialogue for public safety needed throughout the city. It has been reported that the smoke detectors were working and had been going off for 20 minutes. There were also complaints about the sensitivity of the smoke detectors and how many people just don’t react. TC can attest to the deadly fact of smoke inhalation and how minutes are of the essence. I think before all the finger-pointing starts, we need to wait for the tox reports, wait for the investigation to be completed, and yes look at how to better train everyone in fire safety.

Frankly, there should have been a greater uproar about the negligence of the city, when they shut down 7-11 two years ago and that family perished.

By: Mojo

Mojo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:05:38 +0000

*** They’ve never been there for P/T, Twin Towers, or Evergreens Apts. (that’s no longer up). It’s the usual croc. tears & political speeches with a lot of B/S talk that when the smoke clears, very little will end up being done. Why, because regardless of the number of people that live in these public housing complexes, only a small % vote or are vocal & aware of the local current events in their district that could affect them in the present or future! Just look @ the up-coming (live) Bpt. Now coverage of the Black Rock Ellsworth Park expansion. Lots of money found for fixing up that neighborhood park & little league field, yet the “entire” Park City little league struggles every year for a mere 5 to 6 thousand dollars while Black Rock gets $25,000. awarded from the yearly grants applications & more. Yet in other lower income neighborhood parks, it’s taken years for slow-moving construction to finish agreed-to projects that still are never finished completely with items like public bathrooms always the last thing to be completed! But we all know that money talks & active & vocal voting power is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. So from the badly polluted air from industry, to the rat-infested areas & the rusted outside porch dwellings, not to mention the lack of working fire alarms & lack of a 2nd exit in case of emergencies all in these public housing apts. like P/T. Do I believe anything will be done? “NO”! ***