UWS Public Housing Tenant Sexually Harassed By Repairman: Report

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — An Upper West Side public housing resident is too afraid to request fixes for her apartment because the repairman in her building was never punished for sexually harassing her, according to reports.

Jennifer Calcano told CBS2 News that a building repairman was in her apartment when he made a lewd comment about her, making her fear for her safety.

"The man says ‘oh nice tattoo, can you pull your pants down so I can see?'" Calcano told the news station.

The mother of three, who lives in a West 90th Street New York City Housing Authority building, told CBS2 News that she feared being raped and went to get the help of the building's resident leader Cynthia Tibbs. The repairman was sent away, but he's back working in the building and Calcano's apartment still has issues caused by water damage and neglect, according to the report.

When Calcano reported her problem to NYCHA, she was effectively told she should apply for a housing transfer, CBS2 news reported. The housing authority told CBS2 that the response was not agency policy and that NYCHA is investigating Calcano's claim.

See the full CBS2 report here.