235 East 42nd Street High-Rise Instability — Mamdani's First Building-Safety Crisis

DAY 3 (Jul 9): Building deemed stable enough for repairs per Gothamist/Fox 5. Mamdani said Wed Jul 8 there had been no further movement since Tuesday AM; floors 18–23 (8 floors) have been shored up with temporary beams. Streets reopened 42nd (2nd–3rd Ave), 2nd Ave (42–43), 3rd Ave (42–43). Some adjacent evacuations lifted; four buildings still under vacate orders as of Wed. Mamdani committed to a 'rigorous assessment' by DOB before any non-emergency work resumes at the former Pfizer HQ residential-conversion site — telegraphing scrutiny of the developer's prior filings. Original event: Tue Jul 7 8:10 AM, construction crews noticed 21st-floor structural columns buckling during conversion adding 15 upper floors outward; 150+ FDNY on scene, Hampton Inn + 6 other buildings + a 400-student school evacuated, Grand-Central-to-UN streets frozen, no injuries.