The number of furious protesters fighting against the construction of a homeless shelter in south Brooklyn has quadrupled since the arrest of local Council Member Susan Zhuang.
Nearly 200 people gathered outside the construction site of the proposed 150-capacity men’s shelter in Bensonhurst chanting their objection to the beat of deafening drums.
“We’re very angry and frustrated at Mayor Eric Adams, he’s treating us like he doesn’t care about our community,” You Chan Li, 78, told the Post.
Zhuang was arrested during a smaller rally of 50 people last month — after they got word of the city breaking ground at the construction site.
She’s been slapped with several charges including resisting arrest and assault and has been accused of biting a cop during a violent altercation that unfolded at the July 17 protest.
The incident galvanized the predominantly Asian District 43 — who have since been gathering under the steps of the 25 avenue D-line subway stop from as early as 4am to 9pm at night.
“We got thousands of signatures that we gave to the city to stop the homeless shelter from being built,” Tony Yang, 19, told the Post of handwritten petitions signed and delivered to city hall in November.
“He ignored thousands of people, he does not care. It’s been 31 days and we’re still protesting with no results.”
An online petition started by the community has also had more than 32,000 people sign up against the shelter.
Many of the protestors are calling on Adams to look at alternatives to the shelter and make good on his promises for affordable housing and jobs.
They claim the shelter was built without their consent and also poses a public safety issue which will open the gates to violence, crime and Asian hate.
“One of the elderly ladies in our community was spat on by a homeless person when she couldn’t respond to them in English,” a protestor, who did not wish to provide their name, told the Post.
A city Department of Social Services spokesperson said the city first notified the community in November 2023.
Since her arrest, Zhuang has been keeping her distance from the protest site but told the Post that she understands her communities frustrations.
“My arrest was a trigger point,” she admitted.
“We are not a violent community, we are not troublemakers, on the news every day there’s a crime here, a crime there and people are concerned and their angry.”
Mayor Eric Adams spoke with Zhuang on July 19, just days after the incident, in what Zhuang described as a “very good conversation” — but did not go into detail.
“I think the Mayor was willing to listen but I don’t know how much he can do to change things,” she said.
“I told him my position, which is that, I’m the council member for District 43 and my priority is the community.”
The Post has contacted the city for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
A City Hall spokesperson previously told the Post that the Adams administration is “committed to building this much-needed shelter.”
The site has active demolition permits issued by the Department of Buildings to take down the existing building.
