Brownsville tenants say facial recognition tech is a ploy for gentrification
Brownsville tenants whose landlord is trying to install a facial recognition entry system to their rent-regulated buildings filed their legal opposition Wednesday morning.
The tenants gathered to voice their concerns outside the offices of the New York State Homes & Community Renewal (NYSHCR), which has the power to approve or reject the request of the landlord – Nelson Management Group, run by president Robert Nelson. Tenants cited privacy issues as well as concerns over the technology’s ability to recognize the faces of black women, which they say point to the landlord’s attempt to appeal to gentrifiers.
“It’s an invasion of our privacy and this system does not really accurately scan women of color’s faces,” said Icemae Downes, a tenant who has lived in Atlantic Towers for more than 50 years. “It is predominately women of color who live in our development. The landlord is doing this for future tenants because East New York is going through gentrification.”