Vigil for Young Boy Killed in Elevator Shaft

TRAGIC FALL: Members of ‘Community Voices Heard’ gather for a candle light vigil and news conference on Monday in memory of a 5-year-old boy who fell to his death from a malfunctioning elevator in a city project building last week. (Katy Mantyk The Epoch Times)

New York—Candles flickered in the blazing mid-day sun on Monday August 25th, in memory of a five-year-old Brooklyn boy who fell 10 floors down the shaft of a malfunctioning elevator in a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) building last week.

Police say five-year-old Jacob Neuman and his brother became stuck between the 10th and 11th floors on Tuesday August 19. When the doors opened, Jacob jumped out to the 10th floor, but then lost his balance and fell down the shaft.

The NYCHA building where the tragedy happened last week is part of the Taylor-Whythe Houses in Williamsburg.  According to the vigil organizers, ‘Community Voices Heard (CVH) it had failed 17 of its last 21 elevator inspections. They also say that every housing development in the City has consistent problems with elevators and that NYCHA has constantly shown disregard for resident’s safety.

The vigil and press conference, held on Broadway across from City Hall Park, had one clear objective, to call attention to the neglect of maintenance in the NYCHA buildings across the city, which residents say has gotten to the point of being dangerous.

 “I was in the elevator with a lady and her daughter and the elevator was jumping up and down. I had to make sure the little kids got off the elevator safely without getting hurt, then I had to make sure the mother jumped out the elevator without getting hurt,” said Roxanne Reade, NYCHA housing resident and member of CVH.

NYCHA is keeping quiet and are under investigation.

“NYCHA has been served by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office with a subpoena relating to the incident at Taylor Wythe Houses.  NYCHA is cooperating with the DA’s office and as a result cannot provide specific information about the building or elevators at 70 Clymer Street,” says Howard Marder, Information Officer at NYCHA.

Ann Beldez from a Coney Island project building and a CVH member is at the end of her patience.

“We have one elevator for approximately 60 families in the building. When the elevator is out, they treat it as though it’s not a big deal. We have many people who are handicapped with wheelchairs, elderly. They don’t come unless you threaten them that you’re want to make it public, then all of a sudden they send someone,” she said. “They (the city government) have money to fund these high rise buildings, they have money to fund the arts. What about the human beings.”