A BRUTAL ENCOUNTER

Three weeks ago, on ask the Mayor (WNYC) a woman who owns a brownstone on Lafayette Avenue in Clinton Hill, told the Mayor the following story: Next door to her, there is a renovation happening. This renovation had caused flooding in her kitchen and other annoying problems. She had called 311 to complain--yet when the DOB came over they did nothing. This woman is 91 and her daughter is 67.  Soon after the 311 call, the daughter was returning to her house after work. One of the workers on the renovation grabbed her, shook her and warned her never to call 311 to complain again.  Our Mayor, on the other end of the line, promised to contact both DOB and the police precinct that covered the woman's home. 

The totally uncalled for and abusive behavior of the workman,  rather than being an aberration, represents a kind of "normal behavior"  by aggressive developers.  This is why it is so important to fight against gentrification and displacement.