Hasidic landlord Nachman Brach put the lives of dozens of upscale tenants at serious risk. What did he do? First, he illegally converted a Williamsburg, Brooklyn commercial building to tony apartments meant to be rented to non-hasidim. Then, Brach stored grain to used for baking matzo in improvised basement silos:
[FDNY Deputy Chief Joe Woznica] said grain becomes "highly explosive" when processed.
"Residents were living with two large bombs in the basement," he said.
The apartment building's residents are now homeless on the coldest day of the year. No word yet on when – or if – they will be able to return to their homes.
Brach has been cited for many building code violations, including violations for a building that caught fire in June. A firefighter fell 60 feet to his death fighting that fire.
[Hat Tip: Michelle.]