After The Insider wrote about the plight of Paige Tooker, owner of the flooded New York Art Foundry in Brooklyn who was hired to craft the brass fittings on the new 63rd desk in the state Senate, one of the chamber’s Democrats has intervened on her behalf.
State Sen. Daniel Squadron, representing parts of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, wrote to Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, urging him not to penalize Ms. Tooker for the delayed desk work.
“While I’m pleased that the Senate selected a Brooklyn small business for this work, I’m disturbed by the way in which the Senate leadership is dealing with Ms. Tooker,” Mr. Squadron said, referring to The Insider’s story. “Specifically, it was reported that the ‘Senate is screaming’ at Ms. Tooker. Due to the circumstances, there’s an unavoidable delay while she waits for necessary aid to replace damaged equipment.”
Flood waters from the Gowanus Canal destroyed practically ever piece of equipment in the warehouse building where her business is located, delaying the delivery of the brass work on the Senate desk. Senate representatives, according to Ms. Tooker, were annoyed by the hold up, although a spokesman for the Senate Republicans denied this, saying Ms. Tooker is being given flexibility to complete the project.
But Mr. Squadron is concerned that Ms. Tooker could lose the business if delays persist.
“Due to these extenuating circumstances, I am asking you to commit that the Senate will hold Ms. Tooker and the New York Art Foundry harmless, and that you will not go to another vendor in her place,” he writes.
Here’s the full letter:
