Squatters in NYC
Have you ever dreamed of living in a house for free? You wouldn't have to pay the rent, and have yourself a roof over your head, and have more money to spend on things you would otherwise have to spend for a tiny piece of apartment. Think of it this way: isn't housing a right for everyone? As prices soar, the chances of finding affordable housing and low rents in NYC is nearly impossible and housing projects are rapidly getting filled up. In conditions like these, having nowhere else to go, people decide to occupy run down dilapidated houses owned by the government or long lost owners. These are our squatters, or the people that illegally reside in NYC's abandoned houses. NYC is full of empty buildings ranging from totally destroyed shells all the way to OK shape. In our city alone, there are at least forty squatted homesteads. Ten squats in the Brooklyn, 12 in the Bronx, and the remaining 18 in Manhattan. Many squatters choose to be silent and not talk about squatting to interviewers and the news media for fear of providing over-sensationalized accounts that would get them into trouble or show them in the worst image. Also, people, especially squatters, don't like to be treated as animals in a zoo for show
and tell only. Though most of them choose to maintain an existence hidden from strangers and "mainstream" society, squatters are becoming a large and growing class of residents settling the land without a title. Unfortunately, squatters hold very little legal recognition and the only way they can keep their houses, or squats, is by helping each other to be organized and seeking support which is essential in order to organize crucial repairs and to resist harassment and evictions from landowners and other legal occupants. Even though Seth doesn't live in a squat anymore due to some problems with his squat that put his life in danger, he still is an active member and activist of the squatter movement, as well as an illustrator and an author for the World War 3 zine' Unfortunately today, squatting a building is not what it used to be. Half of the squats that used to be open in the 1980's are now demolished to make way for housing projects and other developments such as brownstones and other expensive houses. Today it would be impossible to squat a new building in Manhattan due to the overcrowded conditions and overpopulation our city faces. Soon, with the shortage of finding houses, people will begin to squat more outer borough houses. It is the same situation with squatters. If well organized and strong, squatters will choose to stay in the building when forced to evict and fight for their right to live in the squat. Unfortunately, not always do they win either when faced with a stronger body than they. A victory for squatters, for example an " adverse possession " law on a building is a loss of the title of squat, but rather a resident legal building. However, loss at court can also mean a political victory for squatters through the eyes of the public. A perfect example of resistance is the 13th street eviction. " The tension is so thick it can be cut with a knife on East 13th street in NYC's Lower East Side" Paul DeRienzo stated. On August 13, 1996, on the breaks of early dawn, squatters kn
Some common words found in the essay are:
Hidden Homeless, Seth Tobocman, Paul DeRienzo, World War, Puerto Rico, Squatting Seth, Lower East, seth tobocman, Garden Coalition, El Coqui, 13th street, adverse possession law, squatters don't, live squat, building loss, possession law, people squatting, riot cops, housing projects, expensive houses, east 13th street,
Approximate Word count = 1357
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
