Yeah, we know. you're thinking that we're wasting your time with more reports of the same old sexual harassment that we've been mentioning in each issue. Not quite. This time, the story takes a strange and quite pitiful twist. Read on, it gets unbelievable, even for NYCHA!
These pages have reported on the bullying tactics employed by Bruce Gatewood when he decided that a female employee needed to be treated to a romp in the sack with our own perverted "Cousin Brucie". Women were warned of severe hits in their families finances if Bruce didn't get exactly what he wanted. And, as everyone knew of Gatewood's closeness to Finkel, these threats were taken seriously. Others, who still resisted, were physically assaulted on the spot. And that spot was sometimes right in front of Ruben Franco, Roy Sinclair and others in their little boy's club. The women's protests would be ignored as Bruce grabbed and bruised them as if they were part of his demented and cowardly floor show for other honchos.
But now, our suicidal leaders on the Board have gone and done it again. They've decided to kick the victims. Four of the women who had complained of being sexually harassed by Gatewood were all called in to their various supervisor's office this past Friday. Alberta Fuentes, Director of Staff Development, was summarily fired. The other three, Bat-Sheva Horodniceanu, Sonia Guidry and Maristella Kelsey were all told that their salaries were being reduced. At least one of the women was supposedly transferred to the Authority's Siberia--Bush Terminal.
As these women had no advance notice, and were doing fine in their jobs up to now, it appears that our stories on sexual harassment by Authority Executives, and it's mention by Dave Seifman in the NY Post, is the cause of this disgusting reprisal on these past victims. This follows the past Spring's demotion of Shirley Brown, who had also complained of Bruce's unwanted intentions.
Now, the good news!
Well, Finkel's Perverted Friends (FPF) obviously didn't realize the extent of their people's reach onto other people's bodies. These four women are not alone in being able to tell us how bad it is being a female caught within 100 feet of any Authority executive. Some of us are related to women who have suffered. Others have stories that are now going to be brought forward--Under Oath!
Against the New York City Housing Authority!
As much as it pains us to say so, we have to thank FPF for doing something we could never have hoped for. They have forced the issue out into the light (or Spotlight, so to speak). By taking this aggressive and retaliatory action against these victims, for no other reason then that our little rag picked up the rock under which Gatewood hid, they have now galvanized decent people.
People who, under more normal circumstances, had not ever chosen to socialize with each other are now willing to testify. And the credit goes to a few of those misogynistic losers.
While we haven't checked with
any psychic hotlines or palm readers,
we'll chance making a quick prediction.
It's for Rantin and the Fink!
The end is now very near!
© 1998 Public Housing Spotlight and John Ballinger. All rights reserved.
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