Door Fixed At Site Of LES Slashing Attack Following CBS2 Investigation
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A broken door that became an invitation for crime in Manhattan has now been fixed following an investigation by CBS2.
The people entering 65 Jefferson St. on the Lower East Side were surprised to see the security door was actually working, CBS2's Dick Brennan reported.
"I think it's a good thing they finally fixed it," said Rosemarie Cruz.
The automatic closing door in the LaGuardia Houses building had been broken for weeks, and on Jan. 31 a woman was slashed in the face by a man hiding in the stairwell.
Following the attack, the victim told her story exclusively to CBS2's Tony Aiello.
"He started to punch me in the face. I fell to the ground. I called for my mom. When I got up I said, 'why did you hit me,'" she said.
The victim said that even when the door appeared to be securely closed, it was common knowledge in the neighborhood that the door wasn't hard to open.
A quick bang on the buzzer panel and the door unlocked. So CBS2 contacted the Housing Authority, which repaired the door Tuesday.
"It's fixed for now. (For now?) Give it a couple of days and it will be broken again," said Miriam Marquez.
Tenants said they are grateful that the door is finally fixed but they said there are plenty of other problems with the building, including the mailboxes, which had been ripped apart last year.
"Five months! (What do you do for your mail?) I have to go to the post office on East Broadway," said Jorge DeJesus.
In the meantime, people still don't feel safe, Brennan reported. Especially since the slasher is still on the loose.
"They haven't caught him yet, so he could be back. God knows where he is," said Marquez.
Residents said they'll be watching their back and checking to see that the door closes behind them from now on.