Staten Island Borough Presidential Candidate Richard A. Luthmann Calls for Immediate Halt in MTA Verrazano Narrows Bridge Contract Outsourced to China
Staten Island, New York (PRWEB) July 03, 2013 -- Staten Island Borough Presidential Candidate Richard A. Luthmann is calling for a halt and a review of a city MTA contract that is set to award $235 million to China for renovations to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. See the July 1, 2013, NY Daily News Coverage at http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mta-outsources-235m-verrazano-revamp-article-1.1387639
“It is outrageous to me that the City of New York would give millions to China for this iconic American bridge,” says Luthmann, who recently announced his intention to challenge for the Democratic nomination for Borough President. See NY1.com's coverage on June 26, 2013 at http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/top_stories/184509/lawyer-enters-democratic-primary-for-s-i--borough-president
“It might be saving the MTA a few bucks, but we are quite simply exporting American manufacturing and jobs to China,” Luthmann said. “The steel industry began in the United States and I am confident our American steelworkers can ultimately supply anything the MTA needs to repair this bridge that links Staten Island to the rest of the City of New York.”
The United Steelworkers are also outraged that the jobs and the contract are going to China. In a letter shared with the Luthmann campaign, that was sent to the MTA and also sent to elected officials including Governor Andrew Cuomo, the president of the union wrote, “Choosing China over New York and locally based family-supportive jobs is short-sighted at best.” Read the entire letter issued by the USW on May 23, 2013 at http://assets.usw.org/news/misc-pdf/05-23-13-Verrazano-Narrows-Bridge.pdf
Says Luthmann, “We are supposed to be celebrating American independence, instead it seems we are about to suffer a Chinese takeover.”
The MTA has said that they were not able to find an American manufacturer for the steel needed for the bridge renovations. The steel required is an orthotropic design, which is a lighter but stronger steel. They say that’s the reason they had to contract the job out to China. See the Staten Island Advance Editorial Page from June 27, 2013 http://www.silive.com/opinion/letters/index.ssf/2013/06/the_facts_about_verrazano-narr.html
The union however says there were at least two steel manufacturers in Pennsylvania, they pointed out less than 100 miles from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge that were prepared to do the work and could have fulfilled the contracts.
“It is our position that American workers especially those in the New York area should be doing this work,” said Wayne Ranick, director of communications from the United Steelworkers International. “There are also American companies fully capable of executing the requirements of these contracts.”
A similar project was recently completed in California. In that project Chinese steel was used for renovations to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. That project ran at least six years behind schedule and suffered numerous cost over-runs. There were also reports of safety issues and quality control issues.
“We would have hoped that the MTA would have learned from the California model that contracting with Chinese manufacturers would ultimately run into problems,” says Luthmann. “Instead is seems the MTA is being penny wise and foolish with our millions of dollars.”
Luthmann is of the opinion that local elected officials have allowed the MTA to press this conclusion and their inaction is a signal of failed leadership.
“This campaign has already taken pro-active steps to ask about the bridge renovation plans,” Candidate Luthmann says. “ As recently as one month ago, the Borough President’s Office, by its own admission through a Freedom Of Information Law (FOIL) request, unequivocally stated that it had no idea about any bridge remediation plans,” Luthmann said. “Now, we find out that local Staten Island-based unions and American materials have been the victims of outsourcing – and the worst part is, it looks like the current Borough President, despite his continued proclamations about “BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS – PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK” has been asleep at the wheel. In my opinion, several of our local elected officials have no clue that the enemies our economy, the middle class and our way of life are being let 'inside the gates' by the MTA’s policies,” Luthmann exclaimed.
“The People of Staten Island are insulted, and they should be. We pay too much for these bridges. We pay too much for dilapidated transportation and roads. This is the latest in failed politics and failed policy. Now and always, America and Staten Island should come first.”
About Richard A. Luthmann
Richard A. Luthmann was born and raised on Staten Island. His mother is a local business owner and a board member of the Staten Island Board of Realtors. His grandfather was a business owner and taught auto repair at Tottenville High School. His law offices are in Castleton Corners and he resides in Silver Lake. A graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School, he was captain of the wrestling team and a New York City wrestling champion. He was graduated from Columbia University, New York Law School and has an advanced law degree from the University of Miami. His legal practice includes estate planning, tax law and specialized litigation. He is a founding member and counsel to the Staten Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and has served as member, board member and or counsel to other organizations including, the Giving Hope Network, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation’s 40 Under 40 Leadership Group, the Community Agency for Senior Citizens, the Richmond County Kiwanis Club, the NYC Anti-Violence Project, the Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund, ACT UP and the newly-formed New Dorp Beach Civic Association.
David Martin, Luthmann For BP, http://www.luthmannforbp.com, 646-483-5898, [email protected]
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