[smokingfrog]

Consolidated Edison Inc spokesman Bob McGee said the last time the utility had received a complaint about a gas odor in the neighborhood was in May.

At that time, Con Ed shut off the gas and the building hired its own contractor to fix the leak. On July 3, Con Ed crews returned to the building to certify that repairs were done correctly, McGee said.

On February 10 and February 28, there were "high speed" checks made of the gas pipes, he said.

[DannyTN]

There were earlier reports that residents had complained during the past week and the day before. Phone records should be examined to either confirm or deny that complaints were filed.

It may be that the Gas company was negligent.

[capydick]

NYC has something like ten times more restaurant inspectors than building inspectors because the restaurant fines are much more lucrative.

Also - I saw an NTSB guy on the news on the scene there yesterday, what jurisdiction could they have for something like this?

[jughandle]

People needed to call about the gas odor, the utility or 911. Maybe it’s an “urban” thing...worked a bad cracked main recently and people would walk by saying they were smelling it for a couple days already and how bad it smelled. They all said “Someone finally called you...”