Hundreds rally in Bensonhurst, claim local shelter construction site is hazardous

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Brooklyn residents flooded the corner of 25th Avenue and 86th Street in Bensonhurst on Monday to demand a stop to what they say is an unsafe construction site. The construction site is for a new shelter that is slated to come to the area. Construction started Monday morning, but local neighbors say they're concerned for their safety. Hundreds of protesters were spotted outside of the construction site, saying that the construction was not following safety protocol. Construction workers were on site putting up metal pipes outside of the building, but locals say nothing in the area was blocked off before they started construction, adding that cones weren't on site and kids were playing on the sidewalk nearby. "The inspector told them it's illegal... then they took it out," said Council Member Susan Zhuang. "At the same time, the problem is more than 500 residents came right away to try to stop them stop all the illegal work they are doing here." The Department of Buildings tells News 12 they will investigate the safety complaints from residents and will have an inspector return to the site to reevaluate. "