Summary

WABC COVER FOOTAGE OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY NEWS CONFERENCE IN LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS, ANNOUNCING THE ASBESTOS ACTION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO DELAY THE START OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC SCHOOL TERM. INTERMITTENT BREAKUP. 11:28:38 BREAKUP. STAKEOUT INTV W/ FIRST DEPUTY MAYOR NORMAN STEISEL OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY (SCA) HEADQUARTERS. HE SAYS OUR JOB TODAY IS TO UPDATE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SO THEY CAN MAKE A JUDGMENT WHEN SCHOOL SHOULD START. BREAKUP. 11:31:48 WABC SLATE. MS OF SCA SPOKESWOMAN BRIEFING THE PRESS. BREAKUP. 12:11:49 WABC SLATE. LONG SHOT OF TWO MEN WALKING THROUGH THE SCA RECEPTION AREA AND FOYER. VS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS SEATED AT A LONG CONFERENCE TABLE HEARING TESTIMONY. BREAKUP. 12:21:33 WABC SLATE. WS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS LINED UP ON DAIS W/ THE OPERATION CLEAN HOUSE BANNER HANGING ON THE WALL BEHIND THEM. STEISEL, CENTER, INTRODUCES THEM TO THE PRESS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT: AL APPLEMAN, COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; BARRY LIGHT, SCA PRESIDENT; MEYER (SANDY) FRUCHER, SCA TRUSTEE; HARVEY GARNER, INTERIM SCHOOL CHANCELLOR; DR BEN SHOO, COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND AMY LINDEN, DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL FACILITIES DIVISION. STEISEL SAYS THE COMMITTEE'S CONCLUSION IS THAT SCHOOLS CANNOT OPEN BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20 AND THERE MAY FURTHER DELAYS. HE SAYS POLLING PLACES LOCATED IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED. STEISEL STRESSES THAT THE FINAL DECISION IS IN THE HANDS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMITTEE WILL BE FRAMING A LONG TERM ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER FOR CITY SCHOOLS. 13:39:50 MS OF FRUCHER, WHO SAYS IT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS, THE DECAY IS GREAT, AND APOLOGIZES TO PARENTS. MS OF GARNER WHO SAYS NO SCHOOL WILL OPEN UNLESS IT IS SAFE AND THAT KIDS FEEDING AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS WILL BE MAINTAINED. 13:45:58 STEISEL AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS FIELD REPORTER QUESTIONS (QUESTIONS INAUDIBLE). MS OF LIGHT WHO SAYS 67 SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND THE REMAINING 220 WILL BE INSPECTED BY SEPTEMBER 9. FRUCHER SOUNDBITE: IT IS NOT A ZERO SUM GAME. 14:03:00 STEISEL SAYS INSPECTION CONTRACTORS WERE CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED. FRUCHER AND LIGHT DETAIL THE INSPECTION PROCESS. LIGHT SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS BEING REVIEWED FOR OVERCROWDEDNESS, HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY AND SUPERINTENDENT RECOMMENDATIONS. FRUCHER SAYS WE'VE DONE THE BEST TO GET THE SCHOOLS OPEN ON TIME. 14:14:05 MS OF SHOO WHO SAYS HE FEELS ASSURED THAT WHEN THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED THE SCHOOLS WILL BE SAFE. 14:15:45 END OF TAPE.