Why are known bad contractors allowed to continue to operate in our region? That’s the question that many are asking after tragedy struck a downtown project in Kansas City, MO. A worker lost his life when he fell up to fourteen floors to his death. He reportedly stepped into the elevator shaft at around 11 PM only to find that the doors had opened without the elevator there.
The worker was a young Nicaraguan, Jose Rodolfo Garcia Sanchez. He was only thirty four years old.
“As you start to work after hours and broader third shift scenarios there have to be better safety protocols set in place to protect workers sometimes from the environment,” Manny Abarca, Fair Contracting Alliance executive director, said.
According to the Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into three companies: Temp agency Infinity Resources Enterprises, which was performing asbestos abatement work under contract with New Horizons LLC, as well as the building’s owner, The Bernstein Companies. New Horizons LLC, a non- union contractor, has been a repeated source of ire and has been previously sued by area unions.
The renovation of the former AT&T building at 500 E. Eighth St. into apartments is an incentivized project, having recently had its property tax abatement increased to fifteen years at 75 percent, ten years at 100 percent, and five years at 50 percent by the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority.
It is being reported that inside this renovation, which includes extensive asbestos removal and interior demolition, workers were working without lighting in the interior of the building, using only head-lamps and cell phone lights. The project has had EMS services called to it multiple times during construction so far. Labor activists and union organizers have rallied outside the project on Friday, August 4th from 6 AM to 3 PM, holding banners and passing out flyers to all who come by. The rally was put together by organizers with Locals of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. (LiUNA)
The press release handed out by LiUNA organizers from Local 663 and Local 264 at the event reads:
“New Horizons Enterprises, LLC’s work on the AT&T redevelopment project in Kansas City is problematic for workers, taxpayers, and our community. Since New Horizons Enterprises began their work there have been multiple workplace injuries, claims of workers being exploited and paid less than the prevailing wage, declarations of improper safety training, and even a tragic death of a worker. The tragic death of a worker came after he fell fourteen floors and wasn’t found for over five and a half hours.
“The developer on the project, Bernstein Companies, has received tens of millions in state tax credits, federal tax credits, and local tax abatements.
“The unscrupulous contractor working on the project working under them, New Horizons Enterprises, is having our community foot the bill for this work. New Horizons Enterprises is putting workers in harm’s way to increase their profits. Our community is asking when enough is enough. Do more workers have to be exploited or even die on the AT&T redevelopment before our leaders take action?”
Additional reporting will come on this situation. An additional rally has been planned with Kansas City, MO City Councilman Kevin O’Neill and Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca.
