Tuesday, March 5th around 2pm long time residents of East Village, NYC husband-duo, co-founders Wayne Rada and Rey Rosa owners of Lisa Projects (EST. 2012) a well known mural non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to “transforming urban spaces through captivating street, graffiti and contemporary art murals” received a ring at their home office doorbell. Wayne proceeds to check his Ring door bell and receives an immediate response from a group of men attempting to supply Brown’s Energy Services an energy provider with headquarters based in Staten Island, New York.
Wayne turns to his husband and states “this can’t be good” as he understands “when an electric company rings at your doorbell and attempts to sell you a better plan it is usually to try and sell you electricity during the winter months because the company tends to have lower rates than ConEd but during the summer months the price goes up x10 or more through out the summer months; its kind of a scam, kinda not a scam.”
Wayne dismisses the door bell and the couple proceed to continue working. A few minutes later they hear a knock at their home door, Wayne and Rey open their door to a group of men wearing uniform and holding binders, as the men begin their sales pitch. Wayne explains “we are not interested in purchasing anything but if you would like to further advertise your services you can speak with our management office and they will reach out to each resident individually; also you can’t be in the building due to recent issues where residents have been having packages stolen. Not claiming that any of you guys are associated with those incidents but due to the circumstances we cannot have you inside of the building.”
The men began to laugh and become vulgar yelling f*** you, in confusion the couple explain to the men that they had to leave and directed them towards the elevator. During a conversation with Gotham Art News, Wayne Rada states “the couple did not become aggressive or “hot-headed.”
While trying to direct the men towards the elevator; another colleague in uniform exited the elevator. Wayne and Rey notice their are more men in the building and proceed to leave their apartment and close their door as the men wouldn’t leave.
Instead of taking the elevator as Wayne directed, the men strangely enter the stairwell. As the couple begin to follow the Browns Energy Suppliers canvassers in attempt to guarantee their departure. Entering the stairwell heading from the 5th floor toward their 4th floor common area Ray begins to take out his phone in attempt to photo document the situation since they are now alone without camera’s in their staircase. Before Ray could open his camera application one of the men lunged toward Ray Rosa and began to choke and strangle him; instantaneously Wayne felt his body hit the ground.
During conversation with co-founder of Lisa Projects Wayne Rada, describes the events following “ My head hits the ground and I’m looking at Ray; there’s guys holding me down while kicking and punching me. I feel weight on top of me and I can feel they have either a piece of metal on their hand or brass knuckles during punching me in the face. While this is happening, I’m watching my husband being strangled. So I grabbed his ankles and pull him down because I’m on the ground and being picked up from the ground.” Wayne yells “ CALL THE COPS”
Wayne stated that they had already attempted to call the cops twice during the incident.
Wayne recalls “There was that one moment of silence, where Ray was able to jump on top of the guy that was punching me in the face and started to twist the collar of his shirt pulling him back; he was choking. The men yell get him off our friend or we are going to punch you in the face as Ray yells get “him off my husband.”
As everyone pulled away from each other for a second and before the men attempted to re-began their attack the couple run into a separate stair case heading towards their basement. The men begin chasing them as the couple arrive to their basement, their buildings porter is prepping a wall that needs repair, chipping paint from a wall using a instrument perceived as a garden hoe and notices the couple in fear.
Louie the buildings porter defends the couple as they all retreat towards their basement elevator and head upstairs, as many old elevators function the doors automatically open at the first floor. As it opens, the couple notice a backpack as they grab it and run back to the elevator they notice that outside their buildings front door were the assailants banging on the glass door yelling “I’m Going to Kill You.”
Wayne states “ I grabbed the bag and ran back to the elevator as we arrived to our apartment somehow the men regained access to the building and were running up the stairs; we could hear them on the fourth floor. Right after we entered our apartment smoothly and locked our door the men were banging and twisting our handle.”
The police still hadn’t arrived so the duo called the police again. After 4-5 attempts to reach the NYPD by calling 911. They finally responded….. things came to a halt around 2:30pm.
Co-Founder of Lisa Projects Wayne Rada is currently suffering from a concussion from them pounding the left side of his skull on the concrete in the stairwell, his left ocular has an orbital fracture, they knocked out a tooth, broke a second tooth, and flattened his front lower teeth. His jaw is severely bruised, also he is facing difficulty speaking and dealing with his right ankle being sprained.
While co-founder Rey Rosa’s neck and shoulders show signs of bruising and are causing him major pain, along with the event causing emotions anxiety and nervousness.
The co-founders of Lisa Projects have faced a traumatic assault in their home office, and are suffering from constant reminders of the attack. Luckily during the attack Wayne was able to throw one of the assailants phones in the staircase allowing them to backtrack and find the perpetuators name and social media handles. Within the bag, the couple found information regarding the company along with an I.D and script for the canvassers to use when approaching individuals.
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In attempt to contact Micheal Palmese, President of Brown’s Energy Suppliers I spoke with a employee of the company who stated that the company is “relatively small” providing service to the the five boroughs of New York City along with Westchester and confirmed that the companies marketing tactics do include telemarketing & door to door canvasing.
As of currently Micheal Palmese has not responded.
“Though beaten, battered and bruised, our love for public art and our City remains unbroken. We rise, not just for ourselves, but for the soul of New York and the resilience of creativity.” ~ Wayne Rada & Rey Rosa co-founders of Lisa Project.
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