514 NOW ONGOING CONSTRUCTION IN THE CBD PREVENTING A BUSINESS OWNER FROM PAYING RENT AND MAKING PAYROLL, WDSU TRAFFIC ANCHOR DEJA BROWN EXPLAINS HOW A VIDEO POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAS THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT, AND HOW THE CITY IS NOW RESPONDING. LISTEN, THE PAST MONTH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR US OVER HERE AT DREAM HOUSE LOUNGE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE EARLIER VIDEO, THERE IS CONSTRUCTION EVERYWHERE. DOCTOR DAVID J. WALLACE POSTED THIS VULNERABLE VIDEO TO SOCIAL MEDIA. I AM CREATING A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I NEED YOU ALL’S HELP AS ONGOING CONSTRUCTION IN FRONT OF DREAM HOUSE LOUNGE, A MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL WELLNESS LOUNGE, HAS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACTED HIS BUSINESS. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I LIKE, YOU KNOW, REACHED OUT TO MY LANDLORD. I’M TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT’S GOING ON. UM, I’M LITERALLY CRYING MYSELF TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, PREVENTING WALLACE FROM PAYING THE RENT AND MAKING PAYROLL. EVERYBODY IS LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IS GOING ON OUTSIDE? AND SO, UM, BUT THEN, LIKE, PEOPLE DMING US ARE Y’ALL OPEN? Y’ALL LOOK LIKE Y’ALL CLOSED. LIKE IT LOOKS CRAZY OUT THERE. THE POST WENT VIRAL, GARNERING SUPPORT FROM HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TAGGING THE ROAD PATROL AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO MUSTER UP THE STRENGTH TO ASK FOR HELP AND I, UM, HISTORICALLY, I SAW THAT AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, AND IT WORKED. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A POST AND SHOW THAT, LIKE YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND, LIKE THE ENERGY OF, UM, COMMUNITY, I THINK LIKE NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF LOVE. BUT WAS IT ALL FOR SHOW AFTER A CLOSER LOOK, WE FOUND RUSTED NAILS AND OTHER DEBRIS SCATTERED IN FRONT OF THE FRONT DOOR. WALLACE SAYS THE CREW APOLOGIZED FOR THE DELAY IN WORK AND ASSURED HIM THAT IT WOULD BE COMPLETED SOON. HE SAYS HOPEFULLY THEY’LL FOLLOW THROUGH, BUT THE REALITY IS LIKE WE DESERVE BETTER IN THIS CITY. UM, THERE IS LIKE CONSTRUCTION EVERYWHERE AND HE HOPES THE STRENGTH HE USED TO SPEAK UP AND ADDRESS HIS MENTAL HEALTH WILL BE A CATALYST FOR OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. I THINK WE’VE GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE WE’VE BEEN SO, LIKE, ACCUSTOMED TO TRAUMA THAT WE NORMALIZE OUR RESPONSE TO TRAUMA JUST BY LIKE CONTINUING TO, LIKE, GO WITH THE FLOW. BUT, UM, I THINK WE’RE COMING UP ON A SEASON WHERE THERE IS NO GOING WITH THE FLOW OF THE ENERGY. LIKE WE HAVE TO CHALLENGE THAT ENERGY THAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING OUR LIVING CONDITIONS FOR WDSU TRAFFIC PATROL. I’M DEJA BROWN ALL RIGHT. AND WE DID REACH O