LEGAL/RACISM: “New York City launched an investigation on Tuesday [8-29-17] into allegations of tenant harassment at a Queens property that has Nazi names and Confederate imagery in the building lobby.
The probe is aimed at whether the rights of tenants were violated and if tenants were harassed by an alleged hostile environment at the 48-unit condominium building on 39th Place in the Sunnyside neighborhood, according to Hollis Pfitsch, the deputy commissioner of the law enforcement bureau at the city’s Commission on Human Rights.
The images in the lobby of the building include a cartoon depiction of an African-American next to the words ‘The Original Jim Crow,’ Confederate generals, as well as several images of the American Flag and Uncle Sam. The names of Nazis Rudolf Hess and Josef Mengele, as well as celebrities, are in the directory posted at the entrance of the building…
The building’s tenants also said Neal Milano, the property manager of the building, intimidated them by saying he has ‘more than 10 guns in his apartment,’ according to Mr. Van Bramer, a Democrat.
New York Police Department Sgt. Jessica McRorie said the police were aware of the firearms allegations against Mr. Milano and were investigating.
Mr. Milano didn’t return calls for comment. Jacob Laufer, attorney for the condominium board, said in a written statement that an individual who previously made false allegations against the board ‘likely placed insulting fake names’ on the directory.”
-Zolan Kanno-Youngs, “Queens Building Faces Probe for Nazi and Confederate Material in Lobby,” The Wall Street Journal online, Aug. 29, 2017 05:36pm