Children to be banned from the United Nations

NEW YORK — New York City’s mayor says the United Nations building is such a hazard that he’s threatening to suspend school visits unless conditions inside are fixed by early next year, according to a media report.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned that field trips will stop if sprinklers, smoke detectors, exit signs, emergency lighting and other safety features aren’t put in place by January and March of 2008, The Washington Times reported Monday.

The 1950s-era complex is reportedly missing many basic fire protection systems, including smoke detectors and sprinklers on several floors. The Times reported that the U.N. had been flagged for 866 violations, and the mayor estimated that fewer than 20 percent had been taken care of so far.

The New York City Fire Department gave the U.N. until January to comply with standards, and until March to finish, confirming to FOXNews.com that it has been involved in inspecting the sprawling Manhattan complex and helping install the new equipment.

In an Oct. 30 letter, Bloomberg reportedly wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon — excerpts of which were quoted by the Times — proclaiming that “if the United Nations does not adhere to these deadlines, the city will be forced to direct the cessation of all public school visits to the United Nations.”

The Mayor’s office declined to comment on the matter and refused to release a memo about the situation.

The U.N. also did not immediately return calls from FOXNews.com seeking comment.

Alicia Barcena, the U.N.’s undersecretary-general for administration and management, told the Washington Times that the United Nations is on schedule to meet the requirements by the allotted deadlines.

“We have already updated a lot of things,” the Times quoted Barcena as saying. “We have installed 385 emergency lights and exit signs, and replaced 2,000 sprinkler heads.”

She wasn’t sure what percentage of the fixes had been completed, but the FDNY has ordered all sprinklers to be put in by March of 2008, according to the Washington Times.

A spokeswoman from the New York City Department of Education said school officials won’t comment, and referred all inquiries to City Hall.

The U.N. complex next year will undergo a massive renovation estimated to cost between $1.4 and $2 billion, during which all the safety upgrades done now will be torn up.

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