April 2009 Archives

"Pit bulls are now Public Enemy No.1 at city housing projects.

Starting Friday, the powerful popular breed that's sometimes trained to be violent is banned from all apartments run by the city Housing Authority.

"Finally someone is realizing that these potentially dangerous animals have no place in a confined urban space," said City Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Queens), who has unsuccessfully lobbied state legislators to ban the dogs.

The Housing Authority regulations also bar residents from owning any dog over 25 pounds. The current policy allows dogs that weigh up to 40 pounds. In addition, owning Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers also is banned under the new rules.

Housing Authority residents who already have the breeds will be able to keep them as long as they register by Friday.

City housing officials said residents urged them to ban the dogs that they claim are too vicious and threatening."

"According to a Peter Cooper resident who was involved, the fight between residents and security began last Thursday afternoon when three of his neighbors had their dogs on the grass, which is against complex rules.

Robin Weiss, 62, who is not a dog owner himself, happened to be walking home with a bag of groceries at that time when he saw a neighbor, Paul Strauss, arguing with a security officer, not far from 441 East 20th Street.

According to Weiss, the officer, Gregory Anderson, was accusing Strauss of trying to "sic" his rat terrier, Terry, on him and was pushing him, despite Strauss' attempts to leave.

"They ripped Paul's shirt off," said Weiss of the argument. "It was a disgrace."

Strauss later told T&V he had actually been getting choked with his own shirt, and it came off in the struggle. He declined medical attention and later said he was fine, though he said he did want to make a police report. A cop at the scene, however, "wouldn't let me," Strauss said. "She said, 'nothing happened.'"

But something did happen, according to bystanders in the crowd which had grown at that point.

When seeing Strauss arguing with a security officer, Weiss stepped between the two of them. That's when someone attacked him from behind, he said, sending him flying face first into the grass.

"I don't remember it," said Weiss, who found out he'd been knocked unconscious momentarily by another security officer after two girls who had been walking nearby asked him if he was okay.

"I said sure, I'm fine-I had no idea what happened.""