Let New York build

In the wake of devastating natural disasters, lawmakers in both Washington and Albany have much to learn (“Sandy’s rebuild a warning,” Sept. 14).

While Congress looks to reform the flood-insurance program, New York’s legislative leaders must fix the state’s unique “absolute liability” Scaffold Law, which makes this city the most expensive place on earth to build.

After Superstorm Sandy, disaster-relief organizations wrote to Gov. Cuomo that the Scaffold Law was a major obstacle to their rebuilding efforts.

Similarly, school-construction officials and the Conference of Mayors have reported hundreds of millions wasted on this only-in-New-York law.

To ensure efficient capital spending and speedy disaster recovery, New York’s elected officials must fix this statutory abnormality. Adam Morey, Government Affairs, Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, Albany