Residents of a New York City public housing complex have endured more than two years of terror from a squatter and his group of vagrant associates, despite daily complaints to authorities and multiple police interventions that have failed to remove the illegal occupant from the building.
Squatter Claims Apartment After Tenant’s Death
Stuart Newman, an aggressive man in his 40s, moved into an apartment at the Robert Fulton Houses in Chelsea after the previous resident, 77-year-old Harvey Wasserman, died in June 2024. The New York City Housing Authority filed a lawsuit that November to remove Newman, but he remains in the unit despite court proceedings and repeated visits from the NYPD. Newman has been photographed wearing flamboyant clothing including tropical shirts and makeshift turbans as he moves through the 25-story building on West 17th Street.
Violence and Chaos Spread Through Building
Newman brings groups of homeless individuals into the building nightly, according to residents. These visitors have attacked tenants and each other, used drugs openly, walked through hallways naked, and placed furniture in stairwells and on balconies. Police have made five arrests related to the situation since 2025, including incidents where tenants were menaced with a frying pan, struck with a vase, and most recently, hit with a metal pipe that caused head, arm, and leg injuries.
Tenant association president Miguel Acevedo said authorities remove the intruders, but they return immediately. Resident Gladys Gonzalez, who lives one floor above the squatter’s unit, reported finding human waste in hallways and now carries a hammer for protection. During a recent visit by reporters, syringes, clothing, and urine were visible in the stairwells. Housing authority staff clean the floors daily, removing debris left by the squatters.
Legal Protections Block Eviction
Manhattan District Attorney representatives told tenants at a recent meeting they are working to identify all the squatters involved. However, residents expressed frustration that Newman has obtained legal representation and claimed squatter rights, forcing the housing authority to pursue a lengthy court process rather than immediate removal. Long-time resident Amelia Martinez contrasted the treatment of squatters with how quickly rent-owing tenants face eviction. Gonzalez said authorities dismiss their complaints because the property is public housing, leaving residents to endure conditions no American should face in their own home.
