Breaking CurbedWire: DOB Commissioner Resigns

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After a morning of headlines about yesterday's statement by Mayor Bloomberg and mounting controversy about her tenure at the Department of Buildings, DOB Commissioner Patricia Lancaster has resigned. The embattled DOB has faced a series of crises, most recently, revelations that her department mistakenly approved plans for the building involved in the deadly crane collapse last month. Yesterday, the Mayor refused to defend DOB's handling of events, saying "I don’t think anybody should be fully satisfied with the Department of Buildings’ performance." Today, in accepting Lancaster's resignation, he said, "Over the past six years, Patricia has moved the Department of Buildings a long way forward by fighting corruption, strengthening inspections and oversight, increasing the public's access to information, and bringing increased levels of professionalism and integrity to all levels of her agency...Patricia leaves a strong foundation of reform and improvement for her successors to build on, and I thank her for her dedication to making New York City a far better place to live, work, and visit." Lancaster said, "I made this decision because I felt it was time to return to the private sector."
· Bloomberg's Buildings Chief Resigns [CityRoom]
· Is Curtain About to Come Down on Lancaster Era? [Curbed]

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