Mr. John Kielbasa, a Steamfitter for the New York City Department of Education for the past 22 years is willing to risk it all for the sake of the children.  Kielbasa, dubbed the “Serpico of the Schools,” by his co-workers has been vigilant in reporting loose friable Asbestos in various New York City Schools over the last 15 years.  Until 2003 the method of notification for loose friable asbestos in the schools was to telephone a supervisor.  This antiquated system did not mandate any journal entry memorializing said notification as such there is no known documentary proof of these asbestos notifications prior to 2003.  His attorney, Pete Gleason, believes, such a system was more malevolent than incompetent, it guaranteed that no discernable record would be created.

 

 

As the public record indicates, some New York City Schools were closed in the early 1990's for asbestos contamination.  Recently, Mr. Kielbasa was informed by an employee of the New York City Law Department that The City has recovered and continues to pursue claims against asbestos manufacturers but monies recovered are earmarked for the general fund rather than asbestos abatement.

In 2003, the Department of Education (DOE) set up a fax notification system for asbestos in the schools.  However, this system has not resulted in an increased abatement of the asbestos in the schools. After his notifications were regularly ignored and concerned for the welfare of the children, Mr. Kielbasa collected loose friable asbestos from the various NYC schools he was assigned and sent it to the EMSL lab for testing.  All samples came back positive for loose friable asbestos.  Rather than address the problem the DOE chose to prefer disciplinary charges against Mr. Kielbasa after he took the attached photograph of Mr. George Palermo, The Board of education’s asbestos coordinator clearly signaling what he thought of Mr. Kielbasa’s most recent asbestos notification.  With this response from the Asbestos Coordinator, Pete Gleason, Kielbasa’s attorney, sent a complete synopsis of this horrendous condition to the following elected officials:

New York City Comptroller, William Thompson
New York City Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum
New York City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn
Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer
New York State Senator, Martin Connor

Of this list only The Comptroller, William Thompson seemed interested enough to address that situation by appropriately notifying the Former NYC Police Commissioner, now Special Commissioner of Investigation For the New York City School District, Richard J. Condon.  A full and through investigation is welcome.  In the alternative, Mr. Kielbasa has offered, at a great personal expense, to conduct his own investigation if he should be allowed to dispatch a private qualified asbestos investigatory team, under the watchful eye of Mr. Condon’s Office, into the affected schools.

As far as the elected officials who ignored the prima facie evidence sent to their office, Gleason was quick to remark, “If Gotbaum, Quinn, Stringer and Connor are not part of the solution then they are part of the problem and perhaps should find a different line of work.”

Additionally, this matter is now the subject of a US Department of Labor complaint.

For an overview of this matter please view, www.AsbestosWhistleBlower.com