November 13, 2007
Schoolkids may be banned from U.N. 'firetrap' tours
The United Nations, already scheduled for a major renovation, is once again getting plastered with the "firetrap" label -- this time from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg who notes that only about 20 percent of 866 violations discovered by the Fire Department in January have been fixed, according to the Daily News.
 For its part, the U.N. says 40 percent of those problems have been corrected.
But in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Bloomberg said he will prohibit New York City school groups from touoring the international territory starting in march if the U.N. hasn't installed smoke detectors and "other crucial safety measures," according to the Daily News.
In August 2006, Sen. Charles Schumer called the asbestos-laden United Nations a firetrap and urged officials to speed up renovation plans.
Another famous New York landmark -- the Statue of Liberty -- has also been tagged with the "firetrap" label, though it was National Park Services officials using the term there. The NPS has kept the upper parts of the interior of the statue closed to tourists since Sept. 11, 2001, citing fire safety concerns rather than terrorism.
Related: The United Nations tours page
Earlier: U.N. renovation to start later this year, end in 2014
United Nations called 'firetrap' for safety lapses
November 13, 2007 09:01 AM in Architecture, Museums, Sightsology, Tours, Upper East Side
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