Mayoral Panel to Focus on Job Readiness for Candidates

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently established the Mayor's Commission on Construction Opportunity. The commission's charge is to explore strategies and set goals for expanding job opportunities in the industry.

The group will focus particularly on expanding opportunities for minorities, women, returning veterans, and high school graduates. The panel will also focus on ways to prepare candidates for job openings at public and private sector projects in the coming years. The committee co-chairs are Deputy Mayor for Policy Dennis Walcott and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Daniel Doctoroff.

The members of the commission are: Alan Becker, Trades Construction Services Corp.; Major General Matthew Caulfield, Center for Military Recruitment; Richard Clark, Brookfield Properties; Louis Coletti, Building Trades Employers' Association; Robert Corbett, Plumbers Local Union 1; Douglas Griffith, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 3; Susan Hayes, Cauldwell Wingate Company; Amaziah (Bill) Howell, Howell Petroleum Products; Francoise Jacobsohn, Legal Momentum; David Jones, Community Service Society; Robert Kasdin, Columbia University; Chris Kui, Asian Americans for Equality; Gary LaBarbera, Local 282, International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Robert Ledwith, Metallic Lathers Union Local 46; Jeffrey Levine, Levine Builders; Edward Malloy, Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater N.Y.; Timothy Marshall, Jamaica Business Resource Center; Raymond McGuire, Contractors Association of Greater N.Y.; Paul O'Brien, Building Contractors Association; U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel; Jack Rudin, Rudin Management Company; Steven Spinola, Real Estate Board of New York; N.Y.C. Comptroller William Thompson; Sandy Vagelatos, District Council 9, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Elizabeth Velez, Velez Organization; Andrew Alper, N.Y.C. Economic Development Corp.; Michael Cardozo, N.Y.C. Law Department; N.Y.C. Department of Education Chancellor Joel Klein; Tino Hernandez, N.Y.C. Housing Authority; N.Y.C. Buildings Department Commissioner Patricia Lancaster; Jeanne Mullgrav, N.Y.C. Department of Youth & Community Development; and Robert Walsh, Department of Small Business Services.

Carpenters Sponsor Contest

The New York City District Council of Carpenters recently selected its 2005 Golden Hammer award winners. The honors recognize the top performers in its annual apprentice contest.

The eight-hour contest offers the top 25 apprentices graduating from the council's Labor Technical College a chance to prove their abilities in carpentry, cabinet making, millwright, interior systems, and floor covering work. The winners are those who rank highest on criteria such as safety, accuracy, productivity, quality, and building code adherence.

The award winners this year are: Michael Celano of Local #608 in Freehold, N.J., for carpentry; Jean-Claude Tisi of Local #2090 in Westbury, N.Y., for cabinet making; Joseph Echie of Local #740 in Brooklyn for millwright; Donald McFarlane of Local #608 in Warwick, N.Y., for interior systems; and Alfred Comello of Local #2287 in North Brunswick, N.J., for floor covering.

The union's center trains 1,700 apprentices in four- and five-year programs.

BTEA Calls for M/WBE Incentives

The Building Trades Employers' Association of New York has issued a report recommending ways to increase the market share of construction firms owned by women and people of minority backgrounds. The report suggests establishing a targeted growth fund for such firms as well as tax incentives for the prime contractors that hire them.

The report, entitled "A Blueprint for the Successful Growth of Minority and Women-owned Construction Companies," also recommends establishing a central database for certifying such firms and creating an N.Y.C. Construction Council of Colleges to set up internships and identify students interested in working in the industry.

Wall Bracing Report Issued

The Inland Marine Underwriters Association recently issued a risk guide for builders of temporary masonry wall bracing. The association's Loss Prevention and Claims Committee prepared the report, which focuses on the effect of wind on masonry during construction.

The report presents underwriters, loss-control specialists, and others in the industry with an organized risk-evaluation approach based on construction materials and procedures. It also poses 19 questions that an underwriter or loss control specialist should consider when bracing masonry walls during construction. The report's scope does not include pre-cast tilt-up wall bracing.

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