Eviction threat after 50 years in Park Slope is 'like a deat
Comments
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sweet tea wrote: wow, modsquad, you've totally convinced me! what right have bags and prunes to housing, anyway?!
I don't think that post was meant to be taken seriously - at least I hope not . But it does sound like some over-the-top statement a person might make to illustrate a point.
Bottom line is that attempt have been made to handle this in a reasonable manner from a financial standpoint. $50,000 is real money - and realer still in (let's assume) 1989. It would have gone a long way towards a nice place back then. I don't know what the negotiations were (if any) but the deal was refused, which indicates to me (along with the woman's own statements) that this is a sentimental issue - that sucks, but it simply isn't something that the owner of the property is under any moral obligation to support. -
^believe it or not, i basically agree with you. i just don't see that as mutually exclusive with having some sympathy with the tenant. not lobbying to let her stay on, just recognizing that it sucks to have to leave your house, even if you don't have a legal right to stay.
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It's a shame that some people pay $200/month and others pay $2000/month to rent apartments of the same size and condition in the same neighborhood. It'd be fair if everyone paid the same for the same.
If 2 tenants pay $200/month and 2 other tenants pay $2000/month to rent similar apartments in the same building, all tenants' monthly rent should be changed to the median of $1100/month. -
Wow- who are you all voting for this election? I hear Republican voices.....
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tajmb wrote: I guess I just find it very objectionable that anyone has a "right" to the use of someone else's private property. If you think the elderly or those you define as poor have a right to low rent, then vote for the government to provide housing. Don't tell me that a landlord who purchased private property with their money should be forced to rent it to anyone for less than the cost of its upkeep.
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I would assume anyone investing in property knows before hand what their returns will be , if not , why should a tenant who lived there for 50 years and rent paid the original owners mortgage off ,be evicted. -
isn't this about a non-profit? The judge will decide whether they are exempt from rent control.
or, wait, has this become a debate on rent control as a whole? -
raw wrote: It's a shame that some people pay $200/month and others pay $2000/month to rent apartments of the same size and condition in the same neighborhood. It'd be fair if everyone paid the same for the same.
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If 2 tenants pay $200/month and 2 other tenants pay $2000/month to rent similar apartments in the same building, all tenants' monthly rent should be changed to the median of $1100/month.
I would be more pissed that I had to pay $2000.00, then worry about someone paying $200.00.
What your doing is asking another tenant to subsidize your rent. -
Jamzer, I don't know what the senior staff earns at BC. I just find it completely ridiculous that they charge $14,000 for Pre-K Half Day(!), then up to 29k for the senior year. Plus they get donations so I'm pretty sure the staff at that school is doing real good.
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Whatchuwant wrote: Wow- who are you all voting for this election? I hear Republican voices.....
Oh. Really? Owning something makes one Republican (OMG OMG Ultimate Debate Ending Implication)? Property rights make one Republican? Wow. Well, if it'll set yer mind at ease I will say that I know a few supporters of the O-man that are landlords and pretty damned businesslike about getting their (market-rate) checks in good time. Not a landlord meself, but I don't blame them. -
Absolutely sucks for her, but she's HAD to see it coming. I mean, she only had about 2 decades of warning....
Whether or not rent control is right, whether or not Berkeley Carroll should be considered non-profit, and whether or not even the idea of "private property/ownership" is morally right, only a fool would think they can escape 50 years of VERY REAL [rental] market forces happening all around them, constantly.
It absolutely sucks to be her, and I definitely feel for her because it's a situation I'd never want to see anyone in...but we're not idiots, and we know the rules, whether we like them or not. It's a damn shame she can't continue living in a place she's always considered home, but she HAD to see it coming, and she had and literally decades to prepare (and a pretty sweet deal the whole time).
And I say this as a very idealistic, bleeding-heart-on-sleeve, ridiculously-liberal, very non-Republican half-hearted Obama supporter (IMHO, he's not liberal enough, but definitely best between the two), but most of all, REALISTIC person.
Maybe this makes me some sort of monster who isn't quite as idealistic and liberal as I'd like to believe....but I'd like to think, in an effort to avoid what's happening now I just wouldn't have made the same choices she has. -
LongTimeSloper wrote: Again, not everyone living in Park Slope is making 200k per year!
I know that I'm not making that much money per year... -
I read this article earlier and had to swing by here.
Even if this woman makes $40k as a bank teller... she oughta be bringing home at least $2k a month, right? So she spent 7-8% of her net income on rent every month? For how long? I'm sympathetic to people wanting to stay in their own neighborhoods and think that they should be given reasonable opportunities to do so. However, this financial situation is just about as good an opportunity to save some money to buy a place as I can imagine, and if she didn't take advantage of it... well, turns out it came with a statute of limitations. Of FIFTY YEARS. She can still afford a one-bedroom in Bay Ridge if she's making that salary.
To point that out doesn't make you a Republican.. in fact, to say that this rent situation of hers is fair and completely justified is exactly what gives Democrats a bad name. -
I'm amazed how some of these posters take the side of a tax free organization ,that specializes in educating wealthy children over the plight of a senior citizen that has lived her whole life in the neighborhood.
Maybe they should offer her 100,000.00 tax free dollars to move on,they sure can afford it. -
LongTimeSloper wrote: To me non profit means they aren't making a profit. But, if they can afford a multi million dollar reno-then they are obviously making a darn good profit and need to drop the non profit status BS. I mean, they can do whatever they want with their money, but, it just seems wrong that they get tax breaks and certain rules don't apply to them when they have this non profit status, yet, there is obviously a profit being made!
Your understanding of what non-profit means is faulty. It does _not_ mean that they aren't making a profit, necessarily. Rather, a non-profit exists for the purpose of providing a benefit to some group as opposed to earning money for someone. A non-profit can most certainly make a profit, but they are restricted as to what they can do with such a surplus. They have to use it to further their exempt purpose, basically. I'm not an expert on this particular non-profit, but if their purpose is education, then purchasing and renovating a space to provide that service would certainly fit within their exempt purpose.
FWIW. -
LongTimeSloper wrote: [quote=vidro3][quote=LongTimeSloper]And how is she trying to sheister the system? By not wanting to be thrown out of her apartment.
all good things must come to an end
I guess I am missing something here-is she trying to sheister the system because she refused the buy outs from years ago? Is she trying to sheister the system because she is refusing to leave? Where is the sheistering? Please explain this to me.
One of my neighbors for years refused to be bought out of her apartment, because even with 50k -where would she go? She was a single woman who worked as a secretary for many years and did not make a lot of money-maybe 40k to 50k. So, while 50k would make a nice down payment-she wouldn't be able to afford the rest of the living expenses unless she moved out of NY which she did not want to do. Again, not everyone living in Park Slope is making 200k per year!
Real nice attitude there, makes me so proud that some of you people are my neighbors.
damn right. i hate this feeling of entitlement that people feel they have. BC owns the place, they should be able to do as theye please with the place. PERIOD. no one owes anything to this woman just because she's lived there. not to digress, but this is why i can't stand Obama's tax plan. ugghhh! -
tajmb wrote:
BC told her years ago that they wanted her out, and offered to help her leave. All the other tenants left; the writing was on the (virtual) wall.
I would assume anyone investing in property knows before hand what their returns will be , if not , why should a tenant who lived there for 50 years and rent paid the original owners mortgage off ,be evicted.
She gambled and lost. BC went above and beyond to not only let her continue living there until they needed the property, but they didn't raise her rent in over 20 years. They shouldn't be punished for their kindness. -
point of order: kindness had nothing to do with the rent.
but i betcha her rent had something to do with how much BC paid for the building in the first place. -
daver wrote: [quote=LongTimeSloper]To me non profit means they aren't making a profit. But, if they can afford a multi million dollar reno-then they are obviously making a darn good profit and need to drop the non profit status BS. I mean, they can do whatever they want with their money, but, it just seems wrong that they get tax breaks and certain rules don't apply to them when they have this non profit status, yet, there is obviously a profit being made!
Your understanding of what non-profit means is faulty. It does _not_ mean that they aren't making a profit, necessarily. Rather, a non-profit exists for the purpose of providing a benefit to some group as opposed to earning money for someone. A non-profit can most certainly make a profit, but they are restricted as to what they can do with such a surplus. They have to use it to further their exempt purpose, basically. I'm not an expert on this particular non-profit, but if their purpose is education, then purchasing and renovating a space to provide that service would certainly fit within their exempt purpose.
FWIW.
i just can't stay away from this thread, but, I will try to remain calm
thank you for that info. But, to me to say that BC is providing a benefit to some group-umm, ok. yes, they are a school, but a school for wealthy people who can afford to pay their exorbitant tuition (IMO). I guess that is beneficial to the people who can afford to send their children to a private school, but, beneficial to the community? No, and I don't see why they should get special tax breaks for it. JMO of course. But, thank you for the info. -
Hamilton wrote: I'm amazed how some of these posters take the side of a tax free organization ,that specializes in educating wealthy children over the plight of a senior citizen that has lived her whole life in the neighborhood.
me too, me too
Maybe they should offer her 100,000.00 tax free dollars to move on,they sure can afford it. -
Wrong post
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sweet tea wrote: point of order: kindness had nothing to do with the rent.
I agree. Nobody would submit to that kind of screwing voluntarily - and indeed, they did try to implement corrective measures. -
metalnyc wrote: [quote=LongTimeSloper][quote=vidro3][quote=LongTimeSloper]And how is she trying to sheister the system? By not wanting to be thrown out of her apartment.
all good things must come to an end
I guess I am missing something here-is she trying to sheister the system because she refused the buy outs from years ago? Is she trying to sheister the system because she is refusing to leave? Where is the sheistering? Please explain this to me.
One of my neighbors for years refused to be bought out of her apartment, because even with 50k -where would she go? She was a single woman who worked as a secretary for many years and did not make a lot of money-maybe 40k to 50k. So, while 50k would make a nice down payment-she wouldn't be able to afford the rest of the living expenses unless she moved out of NY which she did not want to do. Again, not everyone living in Park Slope is making 200k per year!
Real nice attitude there, makes me so proud that some of you people are my neighbors.
damn right. i hate this feeling of entitlement that people feel they have. BC owns the place, they should be able to do as theye please with the place. PERIOD. no one owes anything to this woman just because she's lived there. not to digress, but this is why i can't stand Obama's tax plan. ugghhh!
And I love this vibe I am getting from you about how BC should be able to do whatever they want with the place period, end of story! Guess this goes for any landlord then, right? No such thing as tenants rights-let's let landlords just run willy nilly and do whatever they like with their property? Screw the guy/gal paying them rent, they deserve no rights, am I getting that correctly from you?
maybe we should start another thread about Obama's tax plan. Which part bothers you? personally I am thrilled that he doesn't wish to raise taxes on anyone making under $250k per year, only on those with incomes above that. Again, JMO of course. -
sweet tea wrote: point of order: kindness had nothing to do with the rent.
yep, i bet they got a mega bargain on that property when they purchased it!
but i betcha her rent had something to do with how much BC paid for the building in the first place. -
Drano wrote: [quote=Whatchuwant]Wow- who are you all voting for this election? I hear Republican voices.....
Oh. Really? Owning something makes one Republican (OMG OMG Ultimate Debate Ending Implication)? Property rights make one Republican? Wow. Well, if it'll set yer mind at ease I will say that I know a few supporters of the O-man that are landlords and pretty damned businesslike about getting their (market-rate) checks in good time. Not a landlord meself, but I don't blame them.
No, I just don't hear any bleeding heart liberals. Yay, PS! -
caseopele wrote: Jamzer, I don't know what the senior staff earns at BC. I just find it completely ridiculous that they charge $14,000 for Pre-K Half Day(!), then up to 29k for the senior year. Plus they get donations so I'm pretty sure the staff at that school is doing real good.
My guess is that BC pays the going market rate for its staff and not a penny more. Just because they are a non-profit does not mean that they should not pay a sufficient salary to attract the best people for the job.
And LongTimeSloper - you are confusing a not-for-profit with a charity. You also don't know what "profit" means. A charity should operate on a shoestring budget so that most of the money it gets goes to providing services. A not-for-profit has no such obligation. BC does not make a profit because everything it earns goes back into its programs or improving its physical plant. Harvard, Yale, Berkely Caroll, etc are all expensive and exclusive, but they do provide a public benefit. -
LongTimeSloper wrote: maybe we should start another thread about Obama's tax plan. Which part bothers you? personally I am thrilled that he doesn't wish to raise taxes on anyone making under $250k per year, only on those with incomes above that. Again, JMO of course.
Well. Yah, another thread. But I make less than half that and my taxes will start at $1,200 a year higher on Obama's plan than McCain's one, and the difference goes up yearly from there. Not that lower taxes are necessarily better. I'd much rather see, oh, I don't know, a balanced budget or something crazy like that.
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Hamilton wrote: Maybe they should offer her 100,000.00 tax free dollars to move on
haha, maybe YOU should.
Anyhow, all the implications (OMG u must be rich and teh mean) and appeals to emotion (but...she's...OLD and...stuff) aren't really convincing me that this nusiance should have a lease for life - particularly when BC attempted to handle the situation in a reasonable manner. Somebody comes up with something real, I might be swayed.
And hey, LTS, you're back! So "done here" was more of a hissy-fit type of "done here" than the real kind of "done here" I guess?
I'm just funnin' ya. I knew you couldn't stay away. -
daver wrote: But I make less than half that and my taxes will start at $1,200 a year higher on Obama's plan than McCain's one, and the difference goes up yearly from there.
How do you figure? -
It is in no way "republican" to say this woman should not get to pay rent close to what she paid 50 years ago, just because she always has. I, in fact, suggested that it would be fine if the government subsidized her housing if the public voted for that. That would be as anti-republican as you can get. It's the idea that her landlord should not have control over their private property that I find offensive.
I doubt anyone believes she should be able to walk into the local bodega and pay the owner only 5 cents for a loaf of bread just because it cost her that back in the day. If she is needy and qualifies for food stamps, then she can get and use them without penalty to the private business owner.
Remember there is no evidence that she is in any way needy. It has been established that she has a career in a local bank. (Where she is known to be a person who can't be described here without breaking the be nice rule). Everyone seems to have ignored the fact that she also has a husband living there too. What makes you all think he hasn't been making money all these years. I'd still bet a market rate rent that they have a pile of money, another apartment/house that they own, or both. -
LongTimeSloper wrote: [quote=hitokiri][quote=eggcream]How do you know they have cash piled up? Do you know her life's story?
works at a bank.... 3 kids (1 still alive) ... if she had enough money to bring up 3 kids and is still working without the 3 living with her, i think she has some good money saved up
Damn, my car payment is 5x that amount! lol
Just what I mean, so many people in this neighborhood nowadays are so loaded that they think everyone is!
The people who used to live next door to me brought up 3 kids also-he worked in a chinese restaurant and she worked in a factory sewing clothes. But, in your mind, since they had 3 kids, they must somehow be loaded.
I think you might have a selective thought process....because you are missing somewhat obvious points.
Lets look at it like this.
Your rent is $1000 (for arguments sake)
Now you moved back home with your parents. You now have $1000 EXTRA that you can save up. Thats 12k a year! After 8 yrs of that, for me personally, I could own a house by now!
Do the same with this person and children.
She might have had a very tight living raising 3 kids.
Factor in food, school (public? I bet so), college (maybe..) and other fees to accommodate children living at home.
The children are gone and she obviously must have gotten some small raises since then. Even if she is only making 40k a yr (how you can raise 3 kids on 40k, i dont know), she has $150 rent!
From the looks of the picture I saw, she didnt spend any money on anything. Electricity and gas look to be bare minimum....
She *should* have a boat load saved up after 50 somewhat years.
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