Latest news with #EmpireStateBuilding
The Independent
an hour ago
- General
- The Independent
Exclusive: Empire State Building tour guide sues over ‘career-ending PTSD' after getting stuck in elevator 67 floors up
An Empire State Building tour guide is suing after she got stuck in an elevator nearly 70 stories in the air, leading to an alleged case of PTSD she claims now precludes her from ever getting in another lift, cutting short a decades-long career escorting tourists to the iconic New York City skyscraper's 86th-floor observation deck. 'Maxine Malcolm was entrapped, dangling high up – fearing for her very life and not knowing if the swinging elevator would drop at any time,' reads a civil complaint obtained by The Independent. 'As a result of the incident,' Malcolm, 55, 'found that she could no longer enter an elevator as an unnatural fear would overcome her,' the complaint contends. 'A gripping fear for which she had to seek treatment. As a result of the incident Maxine Malcolm could no longer work in her job and had to leave employment.' The elevators in the 94-year-old Empire State Building 'often' get stuck, Malcolm says in her complaint. In 2008, five of the building's elevators all got stuck at the same time, forcing passengers to pry open the doors and jump down to the nearest landing. In 2016, members of a high school choir were trapped in an Empire State Building elevator some 40 stories in the air, and had to be rescued by firefighters. Last year, seven people were stranded in a stuck elevator on the tower's 16th floor, finally getting out after 90 minutes when rescue crews led them through a hatch in the car's ceiling. Reached by phone on Tuesday, Malcolm, a Brooklyn resident, declined to answer any questions about her experience and referred The Independent to her attorney, Manuel Moses, who declined to comment. Malcolm's complaint, which was filed July 18 in Kings County Supreme Court, says was 'a trusted employee and highly respected in her job, having served millions of tourists' during her 30 years as an Empire State Building tour guide. Her duties involved 'ferry[ing] passengers on elevators' up to the observation deck, according to the complaint, which claims Malcolm 'observed that these elevators would often get stuck.' 'Maxine Malcolm would observe how on those occasions management at The Empire State Building would make every effort to ameliorate the anxiety and fear this would cause by offering free admission and words of assurance,' the complaint continues. 'Maxine Malcolm noticed that before this incident… occurred there was an elevator that was getting stuck going up to the observation deck and remaining in disrepair.' According to Malcolm's complaint, cars 5, 6, 8, and 10 'broke down often.' Around 3 p.m. on September 10, 2023, Malcolm was alone in car 6, heading upstairs for her lunch break, the complaint goes on. When it reached the 67th floor, the elevator suddenly stopped and began swinging back and forth, according to the complaint. Amid the turbulence, Malcolm 'was badly shaken to and fro in this elevator and was knocked to the floor… seriously injur[ing] her shoulder,' the complaint states. '[I]t should be noted that this was the day before September 11th and in her mind this heightened her fear of possible impending death,' the complaint contends. Eventually, Malcolm managed to get out, although the complaint does not specify how long she was stuck, and whether the elevator simply started up again or if she had to be rescued. 'Maxine Malcolm remains in psychological treatment related to the elevator incident, as she still suffers from PTSD[,] also known as post-traumatic stress disorder[,] and has a phobia for getting in an elevator by herself that causes severe emotional distress,' the complaint states. Before Malcolm developed her elevator phobia, she was earning roughly $90,000 annually, with overtime and benefits, according to her complaint. Now, it says, she receives $2,182 per month from workers' comp, or, a little under $550 a week. Malcolm's lawsuit blames the Otis Elevator Company for her troubles, including personal injury, emotional distress and economic damages. (The Empire State Building and its management are not named as defendants in the suit.) It claims Otis Elevator breached a 'heightened duty of care as these elevators and more specifically the one involved is specifically used for income-earning purposes and intended to lift very high loads up very far for millions of people annually who have paid a fee to go up to the observation deck.' 'This incident was foreseeable,' Malcolm's complaint alleges. 'There was a history of problems with the elevators in The Empire State Building is that they have a tendency to break down and the employees from the Otis Elevator Company would take those elevators out of rotation, fix them, and sometimes they fix it or put it out for the entire day[,] depending on the issue.' Yet, Malcolm accuses Otis Elevator of 'allowing' the elevator's condition to deteriorate by failing to – among other things – keep 'all the components of the elevator car, assembly, associated mechanicals and cables, lift electric motors, indicators, [and] sensors… in working order for the safety of the public.' As a result, Malcolm's complaint says she experienced severe pain and suffering, emotional distress, and anguish. Malcolm wanted to continue working at the Empire State Building 'into her later years,' but is now unable to, according to the complaint. She is suing on multiple causes of action, including negligence, elevator phobia and loss of employment, and is seeking monetary damages to be determined in court. A spokesman for Otis, the world's largest elevator company, told The Independent, 'It would not be appropriate for us to comment on a pending legal matter.'
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Marketers Should Think Like Tourists
Luciana Cemerka is a Global CMO at TP . getty As marketing professionals, we spend so much time trying to capture attention that we often forget to train our ability to notice. Inspiration is everywhere if you're willing to step outside of your routine and explore the world with a tourist's mindset. I'm writing this from New York City, a place that doesn't whisper ideas—it shouts them. In just a few days, I've gathered references, creative sparks and emotional impressions that I know will shape my work long after I return. However, what's been most valuable hasn't just been what I saw but how I experienced it. Take the Empire State Building. Most visitors go for the view, but what surprised me was the experience before the elevator ride. The design team has turned a potentially boring wait into a curated journey with immersive rooms, vibrant visuals and nostalgic references—from architectural feats to a playful photo with King Kong. Sure, the observatory isn't as cutting-edge as some newer attractions, but by the time you reach the top, the emotional groundwork has been so well laid that the moment feels iconic, personal and unforgettable. It's brilliant marketing. The team created a story arc, built anticipation and made the brand larger than the view itself. It reminded me that great marketing isn't just about the product or destination; it's about the journey you design around it. Expanding Your Repertoire Like An Artist We often narrow our creative inputs to marketing blogs, trend reports or competitive benchmarks. However, originality comes from broadening your perspective. If you want fresh ideas, your inputs must be wider and deeper than your outputs. That's why I pay attention to everything—from how exhibits are lit, to how strangers tell stories, to how silence or music shapes mood. One unexpected moment that stayed with me happened at the American Museum of Natural History. We were admiring the cross-section of an ancient tree when an older guide approached. She explained, with contagious passion, how old the tree was and pointed to the rings that marked historical moments. When she heard we were from Brazil, she instantly brought in references from the Amazon. Her knowledge, warmth and ability to connect made that moment unforgettable. She was doing exactly what great marketers do: meeting people where they are, adapting the story to their world and creating meaning through relevance. Another place that left a deep impression was the New York Public Library. Walking through its marble corridors and hushed reading rooms, the power of simplicity and permanence struck me. There was no gimmick, no flash—just thoughtful design, timeless architecture and a sense of quiet trust. It reminded me that not every brand needs to chase the latest trend. Sometimes, what people value most is calm, clarity and credibility. In a world obsessed with disruption, consistency can be a radical form of engagement. Broadway Lessons: From Story To Spectacle Then there was Aladdin on Broadway. I expected magic, but I didn't expect to laugh so hard. The show stayed true to the original story but cleverly updated it with modern jokes and cultural nods that made the audience feel completely seen. Genie stole the show—breaking the fourth wall, poking fun at today's pop culture and creating a sense of connection that's rare in such grand productions. And that flying carpet—I still don't know how they did it. The illusion was flawless, the synchronization perfect. It's a masterclass in seamless execution and emotional pacing. It reminded me that every element of a campaign, from technical execution to tone, must align in service of the overall experience. Surprise, precision and joy—this is what engagement looks like. Curiosity As A Career Strategy Today's marketers must balance data with instinct, structure with soul. The best way to sharpen both is to get out of the usual context. Walk through cities. Listen to people. Visit a library, a market or a gallery. Take notes. Ask yourself: What's the 'Empire State journey' in my brand? How do I design anticipation? What will they feel before they see the product? In the end, great marketing isn't just about communication; it's about connection. The people who create those connections are often the ones who leave the office, wander a bit and notice what most people miss. Forbes Communications Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Critics School Stephen Miller For Building Up These Absurd American History Claims
Donald Trump's senior White House aide Stephen Miller pushed a bonkers, racist claim on Monday after he suggested that he could spot someone's immigration status just by looking at a picture of them. Miller, in a Fox News appearance, reacted to an ABC News clip of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) emphasizing that LA is a 'city of immigrants' and it won't get rebuilt 'without immigrant labor' after devastating wildfires earlier this year. 'If you look at photos of the Empire State Building being constructed — in record time, by the way — you know what you don't see there? Any illegal aliens,' Miller told Fox News' Laura Ingraham. 'You look at the photos of us landing a man on the moon, you look at the NASA control room, you don't see any photos of illegal aliens. Americans built this country, Americans sustained this country, Americans have powered this country for two and a half centuries.' In reality, immigrants played a key role in the construction of the Empire State Building, a project that — at its peak — had a workforce of 3,500 people. Many of the workers were Irish and Italian immigrants, who were notably joined by Mohawk ironworkers, according to the Museum of the City of New York. The iconic skyscraper was also designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon: a firm founded by Canadian-born architect Richmond Shreve and William F. Lamb, whose father was an immigrant from Scotland, before Chicago native Arthur Loomis Harmon joined in 1929. The Empire State Building took just over 13 months to build between March 1930 and April 1931, becoming the world's tallest building at the time. It held that title for nearly four decades until the construction of the World Trade Center. Social media users ripped Miller's skyscraper talk and also took aim at his NASA comments, referring to the secret U.S. intelligence program 'Operation Paperclip' that brought Nazi scientists to America that played be a key part in the beginnings of NASA and its Apollo missions in the years after World War II. Related... Social Media Wonders Why Trump Suddenly Cares About Washington Commanders Team Name Gov. DeSantis Urges Trump To Release Epstein Files: 'No One's Been Brought To Justice' Tucker Carlson Spits Out 2-Word Response To Trump's Claim That He Called The President To Apologize Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Critics School Stephen Miller For Building Up These Absurd American History Claims
Donald Trump's senior White House aide Stephen Miller pushed a bonkers, racist claim on Monday after he suggested that he could spot someone's immigration status just by looking at a picture of them. Miller, in a Fox News appearance, reacted to an ABC News clip of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) emphasizing that LA is a 'city of immigrants' and it won't get rebuilt 'without immigrant labor' after devastating wildfires earlier this year. 'If you look at photos of the Empire State Building being constructed — in record time, by the way — you know what you don't see there? Any illegal aliens,' Miller told Fox News' Laura Ingraham. 'You look at the photos of us landing a man on the moon, you look at the NASA control room, you don't see any photos of illegal aliens. Americans built this country, Americans sustained this country, Americans have powered this country for two and a half centuries.' In reality, immigrants played a key role in the construction of the Empire State Building, a project that — at its peak — had a workforce of 3,500 people. Many of the workers were Irish and Italian immigrants, who were notably joined by Mohawk ironworkers, according to the Museum of the City of New York. The iconic skyscraper was also designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon: a firm founded by Canadian-born architect Richmond Shreve and William F. Lamb, whose father was an immigrant from Scotland, before Chicago native Arthur Loomis Harmon joined in 1929. The Empire State Building took just over 13 months to build between March 1930 and April 1931, becoming the world's tallest building at the time. It held that title for nearly four decades until the construction of the World Trade Center. MILLER: If you look at photos of the Empire State Building being built, you don't see any illegal aliens. When you look at the photos of the NASA control room during the moon landing, you don't see any illegal aliens. Americans built, sustained, and powered this country for two… — Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2025 Social media users ripped Miller's skyscraper talk and also took aim at his NASA comments, referring to the secret U.S. intelligence program 'Operation Paperclip' that brought Nazi scientists to America that played be a key part in the beginnings of NASA and its Apollo missions in the years after World War II. Immigrants built this country. — WeThePeople🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@PrincessBravato) July 21, 2025 The Empire State project employed ~3,400 construction workers, many Italian and Irish. Mohawk ironworkers, 'sky boys', were vital crew members. One bricklayer, Aniello Conte, was an Italian undocumented immigrant. His papers are not visible in photos. — Bad Fox Graphics (@BadFoxGraphics) July 21, 2025 Everything from the history of agricultural labor prior the Founding, through the post-slavery Industrial Revolution, through Wernher von Braun at NASA is a direct refutation of this ahistorical bullshit. — Jason Goldman (@goldman) July 22, 2025 NASA's storied moon landing was powered by legal immigrants They were Nazi war criminals brought to the US through Operation Paperclip, but they were legal — Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) July 22, 2025 "When you look at the photos of the NASA control room during the moon landing, you don't see any illegal aliens."Just actual, bona fide, Hitler-era German full Nazi rocket scientists. — Dr David Berger, aBsuRdiSTe cROnickLeR (@YouAreLobbyLud) July 22, 2025 How does someone know people are "Illegal aliens" from a picture? — Machine Pun Kelly 🇺🇦 (@KellyScaletta) July 22, 2025 According to Stephen Miller you can see a person's legal status — PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 21, 2025 My grandfather immigrated to US from Poland. He came through Ellis Island but gave a false age so he could work; so so technically he was an 'Illegal alien' He served in WWI and worked as a mason on both the Empire State and the Chrysler Buildings. You think he was the only 1? So… — Steve Zagorski (@sgz0040) July 21, 2025 Related... Social Media Wonders Why Trump Suddenly Cares About Washington Commanders Team Name Gov. DeSantis Urges Trump To Release Epstein Files: 'No One's Been Brought To Justice' Tucker Carlson Spits Out 2-Word Response To Trump's Claim That He Called The President To Apologize
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Trump hits back against ‘bawdy' Epstein birthday message report
Donald Trump has strongly denied that he 'wrote a picture,' specifically refuting a Wall Street Journal report that alleged he drew a "bawdy" sketch for Jeffrey Epstein 's 50th birthday. This denial is contradicted by evidence showing at least five sketches attributed to Trump have been sold at auction over the past decade. These auctioned works include drawings of the Empire State Building, a "Money Tree," and various city skylines, created between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s. The sketches have fetched considerable prices, with one minimalist New York City skyline piece selling for as much as $29,000 in 2017. Trump himself previously acknowledged donating "autographed doodles" and said "art may not be my strong point" in his 2010 book, Trump Never Give Up.
