Tenant's Revolution (sort of)

Walking to work today, I was handed a flyer denouncing the condo development across the street from me (note: I usually always take flyers or postcards handed to me on the street as I feel bad for the person who has to stand there and hand them out like I used to do at political rallies.)

A worker died there last week (see update on this tragedy in the Brownstoner). And now the union has posted its infamous inflatable rat across the street -- which, incidentally, threw both my dogs into a barking storm when I took them out this morning.


I understand the need to bring sub-standard workplace practices to light. I even told the man I would call the number on the flyer to denounce the practice, especially he told me that the company didn't even help with the worker's funeral expenses (which swayed me even more despite knowing that it may or may not be true). However, I don't get one thing.

The number on the flyer was that of the building's owner, Dani Weiss. Now, the flyer doesn't say who Dani Weiss is, but a quick google search revealed him (or her) to be representing the company that is constructing the building.

Here's my question: Why complain to the owner? Clearly s/he didn't care about the worker conditions to start with. And, given the tight housing market in New York, these calls aren't going to prevent him from selling every condo for above market rates.

Now, I have some experience on the housing front here in the city. You see, I started a tenants' revolution in my old building. After several instances (in the middle of winter, mind you) with intermittent heat and electricity and after several calls to the housing authority (HPD), I posted signs in my building alerting other tenants to call to file complaints. Thing is, most other people in my building were Chinese, and most didn't speak English. The reason I call this act a revolution (in the Chinese sense, of course) is that when I came out the next morning, my signs had been translated into Mandarin characters!

The Chinese were pissed too! Several of the women in the building nodded their heads toward me as I left for work that day -- clearly a vote of confidence in my act. (I know this because we had developed a certain level of c0mmunication via body language.)

Oddly enough, the following summer, after I had left the city but was back interning, I got a phone call from a lawyer identifying herself as representing HPD. They were actually filing a suit against the owners (read slum lords) of my old building. And, they asked me for a deposition given the number of complaints I had filed.

Ahh, the sense of vindication. (never mind you that I'm not exactly sure if the slum lord ever got forced to pay any sort of retribution)

So, here's my lesson for the union with the rat...

Please put a phone number for someone who care on your flyer.

Clearly, the building owner does not, or s/he would have insured safe working conditions from the start. Why would s/he then care about a few nasty phone calls from local residents, many of whom have probably wondered what the fabulous new condos will go for?

People who might care, for example: the city authority that manages building construction, your local city council representative, the neighborhood community council, etc.

They might do something.

The owner of the building will most certainly not.