Williamsburg: Squatters' Paradise
On the heels of a post on Curbed yesterday, the Daily News today has an article about how the living is easy in Williamsburg for squatters. The paper profiles a drifter named Jonny who enjoys the easy access to abandoned buildings like 205 North 9th Street (“We just kick the fences in. We get in…
On the heels of a post on Curbed yesterday, the Daily News today has an article about how the living is easy in Williamsburg for squatters. The paper profiles a drifter named Jonny who enjoys the easy access to abandoned buildings like 205 North 9th Street (“We just kick the fences in. We get in easy”) and the short train ride to Wall Street where he rakes in $150 a day panhandling (“My girlfriend and I bought a laptop, a portable DVD player and a PSP”). And, according to Jonny, the police in Williamsburg are also very cooperative: “I’m seeing more squatters on Bedford,” he said. “The cops don’t mess with you.” In a related article, neighborhood residents show they aren’t as happy with the situation. “It’s like St. Marks in the ’70s,” said Williamsburg activist Philip DePaolo, referring to the notorious East Village hangout. “It’s the bad old days all over again. There’s crack and heroin all over the neighborhood.”
Squatting Made Easy in Williamsburg [NY Daily News]
Punks Invade Williamsburg [NY Daily News]
Busted Williamsburg [Curbed]
Photo from Curbed
they aren’t pleasent, the smell, the begging
hoping they don’t come back every summer
NYC has always had its share of squatters. Some have just found a new “home.”
“@brownstoner”
can we PLEASE not turn this blog into twitter.
I can only aspire to reach the level of sophistication your posts bring, Rob. This will be the last time I acknowledge you.
IronMaiden – what have the hipsters got to do with the squatters?
@brownstoner: That P&P dude takes a car service!?? The panhandlers in DUMBO frustrate me. Don’t they realize they are limiting themselves to a small pool of people? If you live/work in the area, the guy in front of P&P might ask you for change 2 or 3 times per day. Go downtown or take the subway to Manhattan where 10x as many people will walk buy you!
I feel bad not being able to give something to everyone asking. I am very fortunate and I am thankful for that. However, when its the same guy over and over every day I might as well hire him to just do work for me rather than giving a couple of bucks every time.
About six months ago I noticed the panhandlers had invaded Bedford. It’s just like Haight St. First the artists, then the recent college graduates, then the lawyer interns, then the Meatpacking District wannabees, and now the panhandlers. I don’t think it is all about the abandoned squats. I think it’s also easy for them to beg on Bedford because there’s so many people there.
Yesterday on the 6 train around Grand Central there was a woman begging with two girls ages about 7 and 10.
Most people who beg are mentally ill. Others have a house to live in but disability and such doesn’t go very far. Others have substance abuse problems. I doubt many are making $150 a day. Also my first thought is the laptop and such were stolen.
ironmaiden ive seen some of your other posts, youre kind of an idiot.
*rob*
Man, everyone here just couldn’t wait to hate on some hipsters! The article is typical hyperbolic bullshit. No one is making $150 EVERYDAY begging and no one is going on electronics shipping sprees. Sounds like some people are bitter about their $150k loan debt from NYU.