Philly Official Received Complaint Before Collapse

A Philadelphia official says he received an email detailing a building developer's concerns weeks before the building collapsed and killed six people last month, but thought the issues had been resolved.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that city Commerce Director Alan Greenberger says he got an email May 22 from Thomas J. Simmonds Jr., property manager for the company demolishing the downtown building.

Greenberger says Simmonds complained about problems negotiating access and safety arrangements with the Salvation Army thrift shop next door. Demolition continued until June 5, when a wall collapsed onto the thrift shop, killing six and injuring 12.

But Greenberger said in a statement Tuesday he got another email 36 minutes after the first and thought the issue was being resolved. A Salvation Army attorney says the sides were continuing to talk.