City takes action on Brooklyn squatters

AFTER more than four years of illegal squatting in Vasco Park, Brooklyn, the City has stepped in with a cleanup operation targeting nearby Kuala Street, where many of the displaced people have relocated in recent months.

- TARA ISAACS

Ward 55 councillor Fabian Ah-Sing led the operation last week, supported by Law Enforcement, Social Development, the Displaced Peoples Unit, cleansing teams, and the City’s legal department.

Ah-Sing said the aim was not only to clear illegal structures but to offer support. “We are here to offer the people assistance, helping them get into a safe space and to join various displaced persons programmes.

Vasco Park became a home for the homeless during lockdown. At its peak, more than 10 families, including children and the elderly, lived in makeshift shelters. But once restrictions were lifted, the park grew into what residents described as a “slum-like” settlement. Illegal dumping worsened, rats infested the area, and the park was deemed unsafe for children.