We must eradicate the "pervasive culture of corruption," announced New York City's Department of Building's Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster, at a March 16, 2007 breakfast meeting sponsored by New York Law School.
Upon assuming her role as Commissioner, Lancaster set out to improve the Department's reputation as a "slow, inefficient, and corrupt" bureaucracy. According to Commission Lancaster, many of the Department's problems were attributable to an antiquated computer system that seemed to fuel inefficiency, frustration, and corruption. The response was a massive $22 million investment in technology to help usher the Department of Buildings into the 21st Century.
Lancaster also established a system of "deliverables," or strategically determined benchmarks, which have fostered accountability and personalized ownership of tasks where none had previously existed. And by affording special training to her staff, Lancaster was able to delegate greater responsibilities to others and ensure the competent performance of their tasks without the need for micromanagement.
To adapt to New York's ever-changing needs, Lancaster outlined a series of initiatives that would serve as the foundation of her 4-year strategic plan for the future. The initiatives range from technological advancement aimed at increasing volume and accountability to dealing with quality assurance and enforcement.
The "Be First" initiative, for example, provides plumbing inspectors with handheld electronic devices which allows them to issue real time on-the-spot receipts. The result is that where customers once had to wait more than a week to retrieve the data, now they receive the data instantaneously in the field.
The "Be Scan" initiative was created to combat the frequent loss of important hard-copy documentation by creating "virtual folders" accessible online.
The "Zoning Compliance" initiative involves checking zoning diagrams prior to the start of construction, so that zoning problems are identified and addressed.
In order to maintain a spotlight on integrity, in June 2002, Lancaster formed a strategic alliance with the Department of the Investigation. This endeavor was sparked by the criminal indictments of some 19 (out of the Department's 24) plumbing inspectors. The collaborative effort, which has involved undercover investigations and the drafting of a Code of Integrity, has thwarted corruption and serves as a disincentive to those predisposed to accepting bribes.
Lancaster's most ambitious initiative involves rewriting the Building Code to better serve New York City's needs. This new Code will be submitted to the City Council in a bill this coming April. Lancaster believes that the revisions will make our great city safer and should prove to be more "user-friendly" to owners and developers.
And finally, echoing a theme trumpeted by Comptroller Thompson in his speech at New York Law School, back on January, 19, 2007, Lancaster reinforced the need to bolster the City's supply of affordable housing so that, as the city population increases, no one is "left behind."
To view Commissioner Lancaster's speech, please click the following link: Lancaster video
To view the Department of Buildings website, please use this link: DOB
To view Comptroller Thompson's speech, please use this link: Thompson video