All-Black crew denied work at Hunters Point site despite HUD rule

Today was the ninth day an all-Black crew was denied work at a construction site in their backyard.At 6:45 a.m. sharp on Sept. 24, a group of 12 men and women in hard hats and work boots gathered on the corner of Beatrice Lane and Espanola Street in Hunters Point. Some walked over from their homes around the corner; a few carpooled. They chatted, sipping from McCafe cups. They were ready to work.An hour later, a dozen or so cars swooped into the tucked away street, carrying upwards of 30 workers from outside the neighborhood. The newcomers quickly got to work prepping the first three apartment buildings on Beatrice Lane for renovations.Some in the group of eight walked over to the site’s foreman to see if there was work. The answer, as it had been every day, was no.By 12:45 p.m., the group dispersed.Behind the renovation project is Related Companies, the corporation that, through a number of subsidiaries and partners, owns and manages the 597 units in Shoreview, LaSalle, Bayview and All Hallows affordable and Section 8 apartments in Hunters Point.The renovations are long overdue. Critical upgrades had already been put off for several years, sparking protests and sowing mistrust...