[CCs77]

Well, the image of that crane (not exactly that, but the other one in the very same site) was extensively shown world wide in the news and became one of the symbols of Sandy's aftermath. So if a crane in the same site is broken again, forcing traffic closures and evacuations it is automatic news.
And it is a potentially dangerous situation, I heard that today there's a high wind alert for the NY area, and that thing dangling there? hopeffullly nothing happens, but it is not a minor issue.
Finally, It may be just a case of extremely bad luck, but the neighbors has all the right to complain, It may be not the worst thing to happen, but it is certainly something that at the very least perturb their lives, being forced to evacuate their homes or bussinesses losing money. And it is something that they have suffered before, because of this very same site.