Curtis had been busy doing various things to lay the foundations for the reconstruction of the district. He knew a lot of the initial works of this kind went unseen by the community at large and so he decided to head into the streets to keep people posted on what was happening and give a little insight into his own approach to communities. 

"I have come here today to share a story. I know many are keep to be updated on the redevelopment of our post war society but you'll juts have to take my word that there are numerous discussions talking place and various propositions being considered for regional and a nation-wide future. As for today, I'd like to share with you something we did in Brooklyn when we moved in, to help the community around us. Hopefully the story gives some insight into our working psychology, our view of the community and the way we do business."

The_Stig moved across in front of Curtis making wavy jazz hands to indicate the changing of scene and setting of the stage for the story. People giggled and Curtis smirked at the silliness of it but everyone got the general idea.

...

Brooklyn had a huge civilian population. A lot of hard working people lived in the brownstones and ghettos. The poor areas were always the ones being exploited by the cops too. They were nothing more than thieves in uniforms some of them and it made Curtis blood boil. Sure he was a villain but he'd been raised in these streets and he knew the code. You don't steal from your family, friends or the elderly. When he'd been getting into the life of crime he'd also learned you don't steal in your own neighborhood either. A few good kicks and a beauty of a black eye hammered that lesson home. 

He'd been taken on when he was young by a man that worked for Whatsername. He'd taught Curtis about the long game. He taught him about looking after your community so it can look after you back. About going to other neighborhoods to steal and putting the proceeds back into the hands of the people around you. If you could inject enough cheap goods and money into your own community, everyone felt the benefit and when the time came that you needed a favour, every street would be lined with people wanting to help. Curtis never forgot this and it formed a big part of his philosophy.

It had been a while since he'd been in town. The stay in Philly was busy and kept him away more than he'd like. Now the war had gone and the dust was settling, he noticed the vermin were back. Everywhere he looked he saw bent cops and twisted debt collectors throwing their weight about. Innocent working people being shafted for money they didn't owe under the threat of some bullshit legal action. One thing that mobsters were good at was keeping the bent pigs in line. He decided to walk around his local neighborhood and see what the general issues were.

...

Dressed in an unassuming suit, smart but not flashy, Curtis walked around the blocks near the HQ. He wandered in and out of businesses and passed the time of day with shopkeepers and residents alike. He learned that one of the main issues they were all having was with a local bureaucrat council man working on behalf of the main landlord in the area. He'd given the landlord exclusion from the rent control limitations in exchange for various favours and the landlord was now entitled to charge nearly three times the previous rent. This was obviously impossible for most of these working people to pay. The idea being they'd have to move and the property could be developed into much more expensive accommodation for a higher class of people looking to move into this increasingly attractive area. This annoyed Curtis to the point of action.

After finding out when the rent collectors would be round, he returned to the Factory and called a meeting. Barry, Batiatus and Achilles showed up from the Warehouse with Vodrux, Theory and TyrionLannister in tow. The_Stig, Raoul_Silva and StopKillingMe were at the bar already. Curtis explained the situation and the plan. They may have been an interesting collection of different personalities but there were some things they were all fundamentally agreed upon. Carpet Bagging shysters from official offices were not going to be taking hard working people for a ride in this town! Curtis outlined his plan and they all headed out.

The_Stig drove one car with with Back_Door_Santa driving the other. They made their way round the local neighborhood, door to door, explaining the situation to everyone. Barry used a megaphone to gather the remaining residents together in a square then Curtis explained to them all that their rent collection would happen as normal that week.

"The new rent collectors will come in their truck, take everyone's money and register your payments in their books. And when they come you're going to pay them!"

An understandable outpouring of disgruntled complaints ran around the gathering. Curtis held up his hands to quieten them down and went on.

"Every single one of you will pay your new high rent. If you don't have the money to pay you come to us here and we will give it to, free. All we ask is that you all make damn sure you get a recipt!"

The crowd looked a bit confused and questions flew from all directions. Again Curtis calmed them down and went on.

"I know it might sound strange but you'll have to bare with me on this. Just pay the rent. We'll lend you what you need. When rent day is done we might have solved some of your problems with these thieves in uniform."

No less confused but willing to help, they all agreed to go along with the plan. And, when rent day came and the collectors came around in their van, everybody paid. Each made sure their rent payment was marked in the book and that they got an officially stamped receipt for it. When all the collecting had been done, the somewhat surprised collection agents got back in their van and headed out of the area. They were surprised once again when they turned a corner on the edge of the neighborhood and were met by two cars blocking their way. 

Curtis, Barry, Achilles and The_Stig all got out and walked up to the vehicle. Opening the doors they took the driver and debt collectors out and placed them up against the side of the truck. The rest of the guys started to unload the cash from the back while Barry found the collections book from inside. He brought it to where Curtis was staring at the very worried looking book keeper. Barry opened the ledger and read through it checking the numbers while they all stood in silence. The book keeper wasn't a man of action and the tension got the better of his bladder. A damp patch in his pants and a small puddle on the floor betrayed him. Barry smirked at it then handed the ledger to Curtis.

'It's all there.'

Curtis held up the closed book in front of the book keeper's face.

"You listen to me carefully. This book doesn't lie. Everyone in this neighborhood has paid their rent. Young and old, every single one. This shows it and they all have the receipts to prove it. Now, you go back to your bosses and you tell them they all paid and you show them the books. When they ask you who took the money from you, you tell them we did. You know who we are right?"

The clerk and the others nodded.

"Ok then. Now fuck off back to the holes you sniveling wretches crawled out of."

They got back in the truck and drove away. The guys from the Factory and Warehouse went back into the neighborhood and went to each and every home giving everyone their money back. There was a lot of understandably delighted people in the area that day and for the next week or so Factory and Warehouse offices had an almost constant supply of fresh bakes pies, store goods deliveries and all manner of other shows of appreciation being delivered. The community knew who had their back now and Factory knew they would always have people to do them favours if they needed it. 

...

When the story was done The_Stig was too busy tinkering with his car to do another jazz hands episode but Curtis went ahead and spoke to the crowd in the present tense once more.

"There will be plans for the post war community being solidified very soon and they will be delivered to you all as soon as we are all sure they are both realistic and sustainable. For now, I hope this little story has shed some light on how we here in Brooklyn think and act toward building our community. Thank you for your time."