Mayor Micheal Bloomberg announced new licensing and testing requirements for crane operators Thursday.
The New York Times is reporting that the union that represents crane operators says the new rules are unnecessary and move control of the industry away from local officials.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are poised to wrap up their case against a New York City crane owner charged with manslaughter in a 2008 collapse that killed two workers.
Prosecutors' summations are set for Friday in James Lomma's trial. Defense lawyers made their closing arguments Thursday.
A judge is hearing the case without a jury, at Lomma's request. It's unclear how soon the judge might decide the only criminal case surrounding the May 2008 collapse.
Prosecutors say Lomma made a money-grubbing decision to get a cut-rate repair on a crucial component and hid it from inspectors. Prosecutors say the fix failed and brought the crane down on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Defense lawyers say Lomma got the part properly inspected, and it passed muster. They say an operator's move caused the collapse.
---
