Paul Bass Photo
City Hall’s Public Information Office is now off-limits to the public.
The office is one of many mayoral appointees’ work spaces located in a wing on City Hall’s second floor. A sign went up on that door Monday stating that only people with keycards may enter the area.
Mayoral aide Patti Lawlor said she put up the sign and locked the door at the order of Jackie James, the Harp administration’s new temporary deputy community services administrator.
James claimed she acted out of security concerns.
“Too many people were roaming” through the suite of offices, she told the Independent. “Stuff was getting stolen. People’s pocketbooks were stolen. The staff came to me and say they didn’t feel safe.” She said the city’s prison re-entry initiative has moved to the first floor, which is open to the public.
Several years back the DeStefano administration temporarily locked the entry door to the area after receiving threats from opponents of the then-new immigrant-friendly city ID card. Days later, the administration changed its mind and reopened the area to the public.