How can authorities block the life-threatening danger of an upper story observation deck at Los Angeles City Hall?
A Los Angeles City Council committee Wednesday unanimously approved a motion ordering police to figure out ways to protect against suicides or falls from the observation deck.
“City Hall is a historic building, and the tower’s observation deck is open to the public and is a draw for tourists from around the world.
“While the observation deck is ringed by rails, the possibility still exists that someone can fall or jump from the tower,” the motion states.
“These incidents have highlighted that hazard, as well as the need to consider changes to City Hall safety measures at the observation deck to ensure the safety of the public, before someone is seriously injured or killed.”
On Sept. 11, a man caused a significant response from the city’s police and fire departments when he climbed over the railing of the observation deck and sat on an edge of the building in what appeared to be a suicidal gesture. Main Street in front of City Hall was shut down until first responders were able to convince the man to climb back over the railing and take him into custody.
The motion approved by the Public Safety Committee notes that it was not the first time someone either threatened to jump from City Hall’s 27th floor observation deck or fell. In June 2016, a 25-year-old woman seated on a ledge outside the Tom Bradley room fell from the observation deck after suffering a medical emergency. She landed on an air conditioning grate 30 feet below and survived her fall.
–City News Service