STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mónica Novoa, NYCOSH
mnovoa@nycosh.org, 929-366-5320
Justice Served: Criminal Contractor Harco Construction Found Guilty
The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, NYCOSH, recognizes the historic aspect of today’s ruling from the court which for the first time found a general contractor, Harco Construction, guilty on the top count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, as well as Criminally Negligent Homicide and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree in the worksite death of Carlos Moncayo at 22 years old. We applaud the work of District Attorney Vance’s office, Assistant District Attorney Diana Florence and her prosecution team. We now wait for a sentence on July 13, which will hopefully be the maximum penalty. NYCOSH is inspired by the Moncayo family for their strength and perseverance at such a difficult time; we stand with them in their pain and in seeking a measure of justice over the death of their beloved Carlos Moncayo.
NYCOSH’s Associate Director, Nadia Marin-Molina stated, “This is an historic conviction which we hope will save the lives of workers – as it puts general contractors and sub-contractors on notice that it is a new day in New York City and we will not tolerate reckless profit that endangers and kills workers. We also hope news of this Harco Construction conviction will reach more workers and increase awareness about workers’ rights when faced with unsafe workplaces, of which non-union workplaces are the most dangerous.”
Finally, NYCOSH would like to express what an honor it is to be a part of a community comprised of health and safety advocates, unions, worker centers, faith community and especially workers, that showed up for the family in accompaniment during this trial, including: the family of Delfino Velasquez, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, El Centro del Inmigrante, Iglesia San Jeronimo, La Colmena (formerly Staten Island Community Job Center), Make the Road New York, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), New Labor, Obreros Unidos de Yonkers/Catholic Charities, Wind of the Spirit, Workers’ Justice Project (WJP) and Workplace Project. We have worked and campaigned with many of these organizations to lift up cases in which workers have been killed due to the negligence and recklessness of criminal contractors, and this conviction renews our energy and hope that justice will be served for many more families.
NYCOSH looks forward to all that we can build together with our members, workers, and allies so that criminal contractors are held accountable and all construction workers in New York can count on health and safety enforcement, regulations and advocacy worthy of our highest value: the respect for life.
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