Audit: Buildings dept. lax on enforcement

NEW YORK Among the findings in William Thompson's audit on Tuesday are that some properties aren't reinspected because inspectors couldn't get into them and that for some buildings with hazardous violations the agency hadn't taken any action in months.

Thompson makes 11 recommendations, including scheduling appointments to ensure entry into properties that need to be reinspected.

The Department of Buildings says it reinspects every hazardous violation. It says the comptroller's report "is misleading because it fails to acknowledge the existing enforcement programs that zero in on the most serious safety violations."