Can you imagine being asleep in your Miami co-op overlooking the ocean and having the building crash down on top of you? It’s like a horror movie that has come to life.

I didn’t realize Miami is located in a Third World country? Buildings just don’t just fall down on inhabitants in the US. Who’s responsible for this catastrophe? Will it impact the negotiations of the infrastructure deal currently being discussed in Congress?

I’ve heard the opinions of some experts, and it appears that the Miami co-op debacle occurred because of one of the following factors: negligence on the part of the original builders, negligence on the part of the current owners who are responsible for maintaining the building and/or the humidity and heat in Miami that seeped through concrete and caused steel beams to corrode. Terrorism, a bomb and an accident in the garage have pretty much been eliminated.

Humidity and heat seem like the most likely culprits, if you assume that Miami has had more than ample building codes for at least a half century. I admit, I have no clue whether this is true, but we’re going to find out. It should be noted that there have been numerous new residential high-rise buildings erected on Collins Avenue along Miami Beach during the last 50 years (the location of the current tragedy).

Building inspectors and structural engineers need to put their heads together to answer all of the questions about the recent tragedy and ensure that it doesn’t happen again in the future. If it is a systemic issue, the cause of the disaster could prospectively affect a number of buildings on the Collins Avenue strip. What are the costs of refurbishing these structures? Who is going to pay for structural changes that are mandated? The whole eco-system known as Miami Beach could be in jeopardy.

Ironically the geniuses in Washington are presently squabbling over an infrastructure program that will identify and repair our roads, bridges, etc. nationwide. Will the urgency of this legislation grow because of the Miami experience? Should we add all skyscrapers to the list of potentially dangerous places to work and reside? I do.

 Our country cannot effectively deal with a disaster such as a major bridge collapsing, killing thousands and crippling a major city. It could be 10 times worse than the 911 calamity, if a bridge falls in a populated area.

If I were president, I would review the maintenance records of every major building and large structure in the country. Every state, supported by the federal government, should be put on notice to inspect their infrastructure systems.

The ridiculous Kabuki dance starring our elected leaders is giving me little confidence. They need to stop bickering and enact the $1.4 trillion infrastructure bill and deal with human infrastructure issues later. Part of these funds may be needed to help the people impacted in the Miami situation. None of us wants to be in a building or on a bridge that collapses.