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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The only squatter is Donald Trump
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.
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
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.
Someone in my experience recently said, "the American dream is dead." Are they right?
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.
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.