Members from the Morris Park community told News 12 they are shocked after Mayor Zohran Mamdani reintroduced the controversial "Just Home" project. The project will house formerly incarcerated individuals in an underutilized building on Jacobi Hospital's campus.

"It's like a punch in the gut," said Sheikh Musa Drammeh, a community advocate. He told News 12 the community wanted to make the building a specialized STEM school instead.

"If we educate, empower, protect the children, we will not need Fortune Society to take care of those who have been failed. If we allow 'Just Home' here, we are allowing the vicious cycle of the same problem that can be prevented," Musa Drammeh said.

News 12 also spoke with Stanley Richards, the president and CEO of The Fortune Society, a nonprofit organization that will develop and operate Just Home.

He said he is willing to collaborate with the community and address their concerns.

When asked why the organization decided to join Just Home, he responded by saying, "This just aligned with its model, both doing good and support for those who are impacted by the criminal legal system."

Richards said he is willing to install cameras along Seminole Avenue, which divides the housing building with the community, in order to improve safety. Community members say they won't accept the Just Home project at all and plan to rally in opposition.