OUR OPINION: What Happened To L&I?

Far be it from us to suggest to City Controller Alan Butkovitz what questions need be answered in his probe of the City’s Dept. of Licenses & Inspections. But in our own study of how that department has morphed over the past four years from public-safety enforcer to revenue-maker, we found questions needing answers.

What has happened to the Enforcement Branch of that Department? What training and education did Commissioner Fran Burns have when she was transferred from her previous role as an assistant managing director?

What made her think her specialized plumbing, electrical and building inspectors would do as well when told they were to pick up all three of these roles on each property?
Why were those responsible for coordination between L&I and the City Solicitor’s Office on problem properties reduced to a handful, setting up a backlog of possible prosecutorial cases? Why was the Business Compliance Unit reduced from 20 to five employees?

Maybe Burns didn’t understand the value of this unit, whose officers traveled daily inspecting businesses to see if they had all the licenses required of them. Cutting back on them cost the City big bucks, though.

For example, on one snowy day, members of that unit visited Franklin Mills and discovered 50 businesses located there did not have a Business Privilege License, which at that time cost $300. Add to that the other taxes each of those companies would have been paying had they began their business with a BPL. How many hundreds of businesses are operating in this city with missing licenses?

A look into the 52nd Street business district will reveal this was a specially designated district barring sidewalk vendors. See for yourself and ask why that provision has not been honored.
Commissioner Burns never understood why her L&I people needed to inspect scales and gasoline meters for accuracy. She eliminated the Memorandum of Understanding with the Pennsylvania Dept. of Weights & Measures, placing all those measuring devices back in the understaffed hands of state workers. Who’s checking for the consumer? Who’s insuring licenses are paid?

A call to 311 about a dangerous situation with a building will never bring as rapid a response had the call been placed directly with an L&I office!

Why is there now little, if any, L&I enforcement of nuisance bars? Why has the cooperation between L&I and the Police in closing such bars, drug and whorehouses become nil? Why was L&I ordered to assume the role of cash cow instead of inspector? Even more pressingly – has anyone noticed this cow is running out of milk regardless?

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