On March 17, a provocateur named Leonel Moreno posted a video on TikTok where he purports to give instructions on how people can successfully "squat" in other people's houses. It was one of many videos he made about how to exploit American law. Moreno, an undocumented immigrant who describes himself as an "artist," appears to post deliberately inflammatory content to grow his online following. Moreno frequently films himself screaming in Spanish and previously posted a video encouraging people to support a teenager who allegedly shot a tourist in the leg in Times Square.
Another home run, Judd! I’ve noticed an uptick in the number of reports about the “squatting crisis,” both on broadcast news and social media. From my view in the cheap seats, this isn’t about squatting, it’s about continuing to demonize non-white people from other countries while scaring the pants off of ill-informed Americans. It’s worked so far, so why not continue?
Regardless of these notably confusing errors, there IS a confounding and worsening housing crisis.
Where I live, in Florida, there are many homeless folks swatting in the woods and on the streets .
DeSantis is pushing for people to be thrown out of encampments and ultimately arrested for being homeless while at the same time currying the favor of ‘developers’ every way he can.
Lately in the capital, Tallahassee, woods are being cleared, encampment burned, and there is no alternative given to those without a place to rest their heads at night.
Whose problem IS this?
As a country WE have a growing problem and seemingly want to drive it out…to WHERE?
Our drug use is skyrocketing driven by hopelessness. WHO can blame the users, really?
Thank you for shining light on cruel conditions that require monumental hard work to repair. Living on the streets of NY City or Atlanta is not viable, and in December, would cause death from freezing. Food, Shelter, and Clothing: necessities for survival. I always think of "Voting Rights" as the number one political issue. If we elect progressive and liberal politicians, would we have a kinder and more humanitarian world? Squatting or simply renting in a building with no heat or air conditioning, with mold to cause severe illness, with sewage backing up, with rats coming after the garbage piling up--we have a HELL on EARTH. This is the kind of dilemma that requires government funding and devoted work. And what do we have? Joe Rogan and Fox to spread more hatred and ill will when we need a government that truly works for all of humanity.
I agree, Valerie. I can remember when after the 1980 election when Jimmy Carter returned to Georgia and began his library construction that he was appalled by the poverty in Atlanta, which has a relatively mild climate with occasional cold spells. It's probably not a coincidence that the most controversial issue there now is whether the city can build a huge police training center in one of the few remaining large parcels of land. The city of New York, of course, is a much more massive problem with five boroughs and many more players, but at least the agency which runs public housing has been charged with finally addressing the massive neglected repairs. It seemed apparent for a while that developers were hoping it would be condemned and they could build more upscale dwellings. Meanwhile, there are huge, mostly empty, skyscrapers in which "investors" from all over the world park their millions and never bother to live in.
More Atlanta problems: a couple of years ago a young Chinese couple who had stayed in my house when he was doing a summer of post grad engineering work moved to Atlanta where they both took post doc studies at Georgia Tech. They told me that they didn't feel safe going out at night in downtown Atlanta near the university (people were frequently mugged and robbed), and he was a healthy well built guy of 5' 11" tall. (Now they're in NC at UNC--the Chinese appreciate American education even though most of the scholars I met were Chinese citizens.)
Thanks for highlighting the housing crisis, Judd. It worries me more than the political problems that dominate the headlines, and calls attention again the problem of economic inequality that affects every aspect of daily life in the US.
It's worse than that. If the "conservatives" do anything at all, it's guaranteed to make more of whatever they think they're trying to extinguish. Then, when that doesn't work, the only alternatives their warped personalities will allow them to consider involve doing more, and more abusive versions of what already made things worse. Whenever they gain power, they're like Sauron's "One Ring." They can only use the power to work destruction.
Thank you, Judd. I have also seen the increased reporting of squatters. The guy who is encouraging that along with other inappropriate behavior aside, my take is that homelessness is the real issue, fueled by addiction, poverty wages, and failure of all systems to support folks needing help. All of which seem to pivot right back to the ever increasing political support of moving money from the majority to the the super-rich minority. How can we even begin to address the needs of our fellow citizens, and immigrants, when there is so much turmoil in just funding the most basic government functions; when courts are so slow in assuring justice for the 1% while leaving the poor and ill to fend on their own in the same system; when the churches that used to minister according to the admonitions of Jesus are now putting their efforts into nationalizing their own brand of sharia law....all of which is compounded by the crazy quilt of social media platforms screaming at our kids.
Sigh, all that said, FACTS may help to keep us focused and better inform the day to day decisions we are making as responsible people who recognize the need for truth vs bs. You share some hard truths that are sometimes hard to process, but like medication when ill, I hope having factual information can keep us awake and moving forward.
You know that only a few days ago a woman was murdered in NYC in her mother's locked and empty apartment when she startled two squatters living there. They then murdered her and stuffed her in a bag.
"Vitels and the two teens, Halley Tejada, 19, and Kensly Alston, 18, got into a confrontation earlier this month when Vitels went to her late mother’s apartment and found the pair occupying the home, according to ABC 7 New York."
So, there is that which, although an isolated incident, can scare the bejesus out of the population.
I am glad you looked at the root of the problem and found that the greed of landlords and the unchecked development of unaffordable housing v housing for the people.
The indigenous peoples of the Americas have had to deal with a squatting problem for hundreds of years. In the struggle between the nomads and the sedentary for livable space the nomads are the losers. The Anarchist movement follows a theftnic ethos where if no one uses their land it is ripe for the taking. Nature abhors an unused niche. As goes nature so goes squatters.
And many Native Americans cannot afford to heat their homes... pay for propane. In November I was with a group travelling to the top of Mt. Graham in AZ and spotted a lot of freshly cut wood piled tepee like. The driver explained that when the Forest Service thins the trees they save the wood for the Native Americans so they may heat their homes.
Based on what I saw growing up in the 60s, the American Dream was that someone who had been in the workforce for ~10 years could afford the down payment on a small (<1600 sq ft) house, support a family, and take the family to a place like Gatlinburg or Panama City for a week every year.
My parents, dad 20, mom 19 at the time, 1 child, with another on the way, took over payments on a small home. Their first. Small in my town is 800 something sq ft. After I was born, we vacationed every summer in a different state. It was fun, it was carefree. My, how not only times changed, they did also. By that I mean they lost their funny, their carefree, became trumpist. Ho-hum
Not mentioned in Judd's article is the recent Maryland Supreme Court ruling against Kushner for violating MD law on rental properties. This happens all over the country.
I realize it is convenient and lazy to pillory landlords as evil, money hungry tyrants oppressing poor tenants. Now we have breached a new low where squatters feel entitled too. New York City is the worst when it comes to residential real estate, you would have to be out of your mind to own or invest in apartments.
Having been an apartment manager in my past I have no sympathy to tenants, none. I’ve experienced lousy tenants who feel entitled to trash apartments and common areas because they think it’s funny. Try getting a deadbeat tenant evicted, it is time consuming, expensive and ultimately a money loser. Landlords have bills to pay like mortgages, insurance, maintenance and repairs and still try to end up with some money for your troubles.
Do not assume that what you've experienced in your local area is universal. Yes, some renters are schmucks. Some landlords are, as well. No regulation put in place to protect renters was invented simply to harm landlords. Each and every one of them was put in place because of the misdeeds of some individual or collection of landlords toward their tenants. If you don't like those regulations, clean up the behavior of the landlords whose misdeeds made them necessary.
Well, you have an agenda. Anecdotal evidence is one thing, true. But the behavior David Dimston describes is NOT “just in one area” and it isn’t just his experience. Do you have a real estate license? Have you managed rental properties? Have you even looked at the laws/regulations governing rights of tenants? If so, back your statements up with more than arrogant insinuations or mandates of “do not assume”—because he is not making the assumptions, here. YOU are.
I did have a co-worker whose house was taken over by squatters here in Los Angeles (actually Bakersfield). A group of people moved in and a man presented a police officer with a fraudulent lease and my friend couldn't kick him out nor stop the damage that he had done to the yard and the home for over 8 months. it was very upsetting and extremely disturbing. My co-worker had no power whatsoever over squatters as they were destroying and causing devaluation to his property while there.
Well it's my co worker what am I supposed to do? Why would I bother writing this out? Jesus. How does it benefit you to doubt the reality my co worker went through? Why don't use research online for ppl who've lived through it. I guarantee there's a forum or support group on Facebook or someplace else. Geesh....it wasn't "very convenient " for my co worker. Your insidious energy is strong, why not find a beneficial way to spend your time. Help someone maybe.
At a time when it's impossible to verify the identity of people, you can't blame folk for being skeptical. Russian bots have co workers who have troubles, too, as do paid trolls. My skepticism arises from having to take landlords to small claims court to force them to honor the terms of the rental contract I signed with them 3 years earlier. This was routine practice with this rental company. They extracted thousands of dollars from renters who signed in good faith only to discover they were being hit up for hundreds of dollars a year or two later. The landlords knew they could get away with it because it was a high turnover area and most folk just paid up to avoid a black mark on their records. I was already buying a house, so I could contest it. By the way, the landlord never showed up for the court date. They knew they didn't have a leg to stand on, but they kept right on charging other tenants for "damages" after those tenants moved out, no matter how pristine the apartment was when they left.
Yes, understandable, point taken. I was mortified only because it seemed like th squatters, although lying and forged a signature had the police on his side!! My co worker had to get a lawyer etcetera.
I was served and eviction notice simply because I am in a rent control type situation. Nee mngt came in saw I did some upgrades and tried to get me out for violating my lease. Long story short. I won but it was extremely scary. I thought I'd have to move to a tiny studio get rid of my cats so on and so forth. Greed is the latest human emotion to win over anything else...which of you think about it. Is really a fear based rationalization for most behaviors.
I looked Greg Kapphahn up—he has ZERO experience with property management. He is a right-wing, so-called, and self-proclaimed “Christian teacher/minister.” He is a NAT-C. A trolling fascist. You don’t owe him any explanations.
Thank you. I was going to suggest he look me up and my previous comments to see how I operate. Funny I didn't do same about him, but I did feel his intent (I called his energy insidious). After he had a decent follow-up I thought perhaps I was wrong about him. I thank you for being a beacon of clarity (and confirming) for me. I can only "pray" ppl like him wake up to their hearts one day vs. living in the judgment, fear based, cruel mindset so many "religious " ppl use to stay stuck emotionally and spiritually. Witch burning mentality is a deranged person's thought process. To loosely quote James Baldwin, people judge so they don't have to feel their own suffering.
Another home run, Judd! I’ve noticed an uptick in the number of reports about the “squatting crisis,” both on broadcast news and social media. From my view in the cheap seats, this isn’t about squatting, it’s about continuing to demonize non-white people from other countries while scaring the pants off of ill-informed Americans. It’s worked so far, so why not continue?
Regardless of these notably confusing errors, there IS a confounding and worsening housing crisis.
Where I live, in Florida, there are many homeless folks swatting in the woods and on the streets .
DeSantis is pushing for people to be thrown out of encampments and ultimately arrested for being homeless while at the same time currying the favor of ‘developers’ every way he can.
Lately in the capital, Tallahassee, woods are being cleared, encampment burned, and there is no alternative given to those without a place to rest their heads at night.
Whose problem IS this?
As a country WE have a growing problem and seemingly want to drive it out…to WHERE?
Our drug use is skyrocketing driven by hopelessness. WHO can blame the users, really?
Thank you for shining light on cruel conditions that require monumental hard work to repair. Living on the streets of NY City or Atlanta is not viable, and in December, would cause death from freezing. Food, Shelter, and Clothing: necessities for survival. I always think of "Voting Rights" as the number one political issue. If we elect progressive and liberal politicians, would we have a kinder and more humanitarian world? Squatting or simply renting in a building with no heat or air conditioning, with mold to cause severe illness, with sewage backing up, with rats coming after the garbage piling up--we have a HELL on EARTH. This is the kind of dilemma that requires government funding and devoted work. And what do we have? Joe Rogan and Fox to spread more hatred and ill will when we need a government that truly works for all of humanity.
I agree, Valerie. I can remember when after the 1980 election when Jimmy Carter returned to Georgia and began his library construction that he was appalled by the poverty in Atlanta, which has a relatively mild climate with occasional cold spells. It's probably not a coincidence that the most controversial issue there now is whether the city can build a huge police training center in one of the few remaining large parcels of land. The city of New York, of course, is a much more massive problem with five boroughs and many more players, but at least the agency which runs public housing has been charged with finally addressing the massive neglected repairs. It seemed apparent for a while that developers were hoping it would be condemned and they could build more upscale dwellings. Meanwhile, there are huge, mostly empty, skyscrapers in which "investors" from all over the world park their millions and never bother to live in.
More Atlanta problems: a couple of years ago a young Chinese couple who had stayed in my house when he was doing a summer of post grad engineering work moved to Atlanta where they both took post doc studies at Georgia Tech. They told me that they didn't feel safe going out at night in downtown Atlanta near the university (people were frequently mugged and robbed), and he was a healthy well built guy of 5' 11" tall. (Now they're in NC at UNC--the Chinese appreciate American education even though most of the scholars I met were Chinese citizens.)
The only squatter is Donald Trump
He may not be the only one, but he's the most toxic ever!
True, but he squats on a golden throne.
Ever noticed how much both the programs and commercials shout and aim to scare on Fox News? The louder the content, the fewer the facts...
Thanks for highlighting the housing crisis, Judd. It worries me more than the political problems that dominate the headlines, and calls attention again the problem of economic inequality that affects every aspect of daily life in the US.
"Evicted..." by Matthew Desmond is a great book on the topic: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evicted:_Poverty_and_Profit_in_the_American_City#:~:text=Evicted%3A%20Poverty%20and%20Profit%20in%20the%20American%20City%20is%20a,by%20American%20sociologist%20Matthew%20Desmond.
Awards
edit
2018 Order of the Coif Book Award[14]
2017 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction[4]
2017 PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Awards for the book:
2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction[16]
2017 Hillman Prize for Book Journalism[17]
2017 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize[18]
2016 National Book Critics Circle Award[19]
The right loves to complain about things like squatting and homelessness, but they refuse to do anything about it. The free market will sort it out
It's worse than that. If the "conservatives" do anything at all, it's guaranteed to make more of whatever they think they're trying to extinguish. Then, when that doesn't work, the only alternatives their warped personalities will allow them to consider involve doing more, and more abusive versions of what already made things worse. Whenever they gain power, they're like Sauron's "One Ring." They can only use the power to work destruction.
Thank you, Judd. I have also seen the increased reporting of squatters. The guy who is encouraging that along with other inappropriate behavior aside, my take is that homelessness is the real issue, fueled by addiction, poverty wages, and failure of all systems to support folks needing help. All of which seem to pivot right back to the ever increasing political support of moving money from the majority to the the super-rich minority. How can we even begin to address the needs of our fellow citizens, and immigrants, when there is so much turmoil in just funding the most basic government functions; when courts are so slow in assuring justice for the 1% while leaving the poor and ill to fend on their own in the same system; when the churches that used to minister according to the admonitions of Jesus are now putting their efforts into nationalizing their own brand of sharia law....all of which is compounded by the crazy quilt of social media platforms screaming at our kids.
Sigh, all that said, FACTS may help to keep us focused and better inform the day to day decisions we are making as responsible people who recognize the need for truth vs bs. You share some hard truths that are sometimes hard to process, but like medication when ill, I hope having factual information can keep us awake and moving forward.
St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix AZ feeds many people each day at their center and sends cooked foods out to several locations.
You know that only a few days ago a woman was murdered in NYC in her mother's locked and empty apartment when she startled two squatters living there. They then murdered her and stuffed her in a bag.
"Vitels and the two teens, Halley Tejada, 19, and Kensly Alston, 18, got into a confrontation earlier this month when Vitels went to her late mother’s apartment and found the pair occupying the home, according to ABC 7 New York."
So, there is that which, although an isolated incident, can scare the bejesus out of the population.
I am glad you looked at the root of the problem and found that the greed of landlords and the unchecked development of unaffordable housing v housing for the people.
Teens? My God. Is there no morals, no anything anymore?
The indigenous peoples of the Americas have had to deal with a squatting problem for hundreds of years. In the struggle between the nomads and the sedentary for livable space the nomads are the losers. The Anarchist movement follows a theftnic ethos where if no one uses their land it is ripe for the taking. Nature abhors an unused niche. As goes nature so goes squatters.
And many Native Americans cannot afford to heat their homes... pay for propane. In November I was with a group travelling to the top of Mt. Graham in AZ and spotted a lot of freshly cut wood piled tepee like. The driver explained that when the Forest Service thins the trees they save the wood for the Native Americans so they may heat their homes.
Someone in my experience recently said, "the American dream is dead." Are they right?
Maybe we need to re-assess the dream. I'm not sure what it is anymore.
Based on what I saw growing up in the 60s, the American Dream was that someone who had been in the workforce for ~10 years could afford the down payment on a small (<1600 sq ft) house, support a family, and take the family to a place like Gatlinburg or Panama City for a week every year.
My parents, dad 20, mom 19 at the time, 1 child, with another on the way, took over payments on a small home. Their first. Small in my town is 800 something sq ft. After I was born, we vacationed every summer in a different state. It was fun, it was carefree. My, how not only times changed, they did also. By that I mean they lost their funny, their carefree, became trumpist. Ho-hum
Agreed. Me neither.
Are dreams ever real?
Not mentioned in Judd's article is the recent Maryland Supreme Court ruling against Kushner for violating MD law on rental properties. This happens all over the country.
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/housing/maryland-supreme-court-opinion-westminster-management-jared-kushner-ETX3ZIOIQVDMFGCXKLTKHKMQAM/
I realize it is convenient and lazy to pillory landlords as evil, money hungry tyrants oppressing poor tenants. Now we have breached a new low where squatters feel entitled too. New York City is the worst when it comes to residential real estate, you would have to be out of your mind to own or invest in apartments.
Having been an apartment manager in my past I have no sympathy to tenants, none. I’ve experienced lousy tenants who feel entitled to trash apartments and common areas because they think it’s funny. Try getting a deadbeat tenant evicted, it is time consuming, expensive and ultimately a money loser. Landlords have bills to pay like mortgages, insurance, maintenance and repairs and still try to end up with some money for your troubles.
Do not assume that what you've experienced in your local area is universal. Yes, some renters are schmucks. Some landlords are, as well. No regulation put in place to protect renters was invented simply to harm landlords. Each and every one of them was put in place because of the misdeeds of some individual or collection of landlords toward their tenants. If you don't like those regulations, clean up the behavior of the landlords whose misdeeds made them necessary.
Well, you have an agenda. Anecdotal evidence is one thing, true. But the behavior David Dimston describes is NOT “just in one area” and it isn’t just his experience. Do you have a real estate license? Have you managed rental properties? Have you even looked at the laws/regulations governing rights of tenants? If so, back your statements up with more than arrogant insinuations or mandates of “do not assume”—because he is not making the assumptions, here. YOU are.
Notice how people who deliberately are trying to demonize refugees are using a deliberately engineered housing shortage to spread more disinformation!
If refugees knocked on
my door, I would call Refugee One or Cento Ramaro.
I did have a co-worker whose house was taken over by squatters here in Los Angeles (actually Bakersfield). A group of people moved in and a man presented a police officer with a fraudulent lease and my friend couldn't kick him out nor stop the damage that he had done to the yard and the home for over 8 months. it was very upsetting and extremely disturbing. My co-worker had no power whatsoever over squatters as they were destroying and causing devaluation to his property while there.
You'll pardon me, but I'd have to see some verifying evidence for your very convenient story.
Well it's my co worker what am I supposed to do? Why would I bother writing this out? Jesus. How does it benefit you to doubt the reality my co worker went through? Why don't use research online for ppl who've lived through it. I guarantee there's a forum or support group on Facebook or someplace else. Geesh....it wasn't "very convenient " for my co worker. Your insidious energy is strong, why not find a beneficial way to spend your time. Help someone maybe.
This Greg Kapphahn has an agenda and he isn’t providing anything to back his great, big assumptions and opinions.
Don’t bother with him.
Greg Kapphahn
38 mins ago
At a time when it's impossible to verify the identity of people, you can't blame folk for being skeptical. Russian bots have co workers who have troubles, too, as do paid trolls. My skepticism arises from having to take landlords to small claims court to force them to honor the terms of the rental contract I signed with them 3 years earlier. This was routine practice with this rental company. They extracted thousands of dollars from renters who signed in good faith only to discover they were being hit up for hundreds of dollars a year or two later. The landlords knew they could get away with it because it was a high turnover area and most folk just paid up to avoid a black mark on their records. I was already buying a house, so I could contest it. By the way, the landlord never showed up for the court date. They knew they didn't have a leg to stand on, but they kept right on charging other tenants for "damages" after those tenants moved out, no matter how pristine the apartment was when they left.
Yes, understandable, point taken. I was mortified only because it seemed like th squatters, although lying and forged a signature had the police on his side!! My co worker had to get a lawyer etcetera.
I was served and eviction notice simply because I am in a rent control type situation. Nee mngt came in saw I did some upgrades and tried to get me out for violating my lease. Long story short. I won but it was extremely scary. I thought I'd have to move to a tiny studio get rid of my cats so on and so forth. Greed is the latest human emotion to win over anything else...which of you think about it. Is really a fear based rationalization for most behaviors.
Peace and best to you,
Kimberly
I looked Greg Kapphahn up—he has ZERO experience with property management. He is a right-wing, so-called, and self-proclaimed “Christian teacher/minister.” He is a NAT-C. A trolling fascist. You don’t owe him any explanations.
Thank you. I was going to suggest he look me up and my previous comments to see how I operate. Funny I didn't do same about him, but I did feel his intent (I called his energy insidious). After he had a decent follow-up I thought perhaps I was wrong about him. I thank you for being a beacon of clarity (and confirming) for me. I can only "pray" ppl like him wake up to their hearts one day vs. living in the judgment, fear based, cruel mindset so many "religious " ppl use to stay stuck emotionally and spiritually. Witch burning mentality is a deranged person's thought process. To loosely quote James Baldwin, people judge so they don't have to feel their own suffering.
Peace to you, thank you.
Kimberly