A New York City councilman says a member of his staff was attacked by contractors working on a disputed lithium-ion battery storage project in Queens.
Councilman Phil Wong, a Democrat representing the 30th District, is calling for an investigation after staffer Bernie Chow was allegedly assaulted on two separate occasions this week at the construction site on 69th Place near 65th Drive in Middle Village.
“No contractor is above the law,” Wong said.
According to Wong, Chow, 59, was pushed to the ground Wednesday by the president of GA Industries, a contractor tied to the controversial storage facility owned by NineDot Energy.
Wong’s office said Chow had been recording activity at the active construction site while Department of Buildings personnel were present to issue a partial stop-work order.
The councilman said the staffer was filming from the public sidewalk when the alleged confrontation occurred, leaving Chow with a head injury.
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Chow returned to the site the next day and was allegedly shoved and tackled to the pavement by another contractor in an incident that Wong said was captured on video.
Wong’s office said Chow did not realize he had suffered a head injury until roughly 20 minutes after authorities had left the scene. He later went to a hospital, where he was kept under observation overnight before being released.
An NYPD spokesperson confirmed investigations were ongoing into both of the incidents after cops received two harassment complaints. No arrests have been made.
“Ignoring Stop Work Orders and responding with intimidation and violence when public officials are performing oversight should never be tolerated,” Wong said in a statement.
The DOB shut down the project’s operations indefinitely after observing violations of the stop work order – and opened an investigation into the contractor, Wong claimed.
The City Council Union offered its support to Wong’s staffer in a statement Thursday.
“City Council staff work every day to support constituents. No one should face violence for doing their job. We’re wishing our colleague a full and speedy recovery,” it said.
GA Industries and the DOB didn’t return requests for comment.
