The New ACORN? Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit Teaches Homeless How to ‘Squat’ in City Properties
- Posted on March 25, 2012 at 10:57pm by
Erica Ritz
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Andres Perez (Photo: J.C. Rice)
The New York Post is reporting on a taxpayer-funded nonprofit in the Bronx that is giving a crash-course in “squatting.”
The group, called “Picture the Homeless,” has targeted city-owned buildings in particular. Andres Perez, who “teaches” the course, said, “The best properties are city-owned properties or bank-owned properties…They warehouse these properties. They’re sitting on them.”
The organization has received $240,000 in taxpayer funds over the last five years.
The New York Post explains:
Two weeks ago, board member Andres Perez held a teach-in on how to wrest ‘control’ of vacant apartments. He called it ‘homesteading.’
‘The best time to enter a building is in the late hours,’ he advised a group of about 20, who gathered in front of the half-empty East New York housing complex Arlington Village.
‘You make sure you have your proper tools. You remove the chains and padlock, and then you go in.’
He then led them through the next steps — including filling out a change-of-address form at the post office and setting up utilities. After that, ‘nine out of 10 times the courts will allow you to be able to have control of the property,’ he said.
However, many legal neighbors of the squatters are outraged.
‘I can’t let nobody squat where I live,’ said Pete Rolon, 64, a 35-year resident who claimed pimps had grabbed two apartments in the complex. ‘There were hookers. They were smoking crack. There were condoms all over the floor. There were hundreds of them.’
He remembers when the complex of 12 two-story, red-brick buildings was filled with families and children playing.
[...]
Arlington Village in Brooklyn (Photo: J.C. Rice)
Mohammed Hossain, the super at Arlington, where pads go for $600 to $1,000 per month, said complaints about homeless people breaking in to steal pipes and metal fixtures are common.
‘The homeless people, they have no right to be squatting here,’ he said. ‘If they pay rent, that’s different.’
Residents and taxpayers also aren’t happy that the group has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the government. “That’s not right,” said one longtime resident. “That these guys are teaching classes on this — that’s ridiculous.”
The group gets its funding from the City Council, whose spokeswoman replied, “We’re deeply troubled by reports that Picture the Homeless is instructing New Yorkers in how to engage in dangerous and illegal activities. If these reports are in fact true, they call the group’s entire funding into question.”
(H/T: Fark)
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Comments (91)
Apple Bite
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 4:48amWhy are we as taxpayers, paying for special interest group’s pet projects? It’s an absolute gross misuse of the citizens money. It’s time to give the states back control and let the locals decide what should happen with the people. Wrestle control back from the feds and this Welfare State is halfway solved….along with the mounting debt.
Oh, update alert: National debt is pretty close to 16 trillion, at this rate, we’ll hit close to 17 trillion before the year is over with.
And while we always hear about the National debt, that doesn’t account for the other debts we have. Our total debt is 57 trillion.
No lying out this one, Lib-Progressives. Take a good look at when your homie Obama got into office, ( http://www.usdebtclock.org/2008.html ) and how quickly things accelerated since then.
Report Post »( http://www.usdebtclock.org/ )
Apple Bite
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 4:57amJust of interest…
Report Post »The GOP were the only ones to present a budget plan since Obama took over the country. Obama’s administration has yet to present a decent budget plan now for 1000 days and counting.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/cbo-omb-gop-budget-estimates.html
AJAYW
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:44am@Apple Bite
Report Post »If he gets reelected there won’t be one in the next 4 years either. Community organizers don’t operate on budgets they just tak what they want from those that work for it..
ThankBabyJesus
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 2:53amAll they have to do is go to local church and get ‘em back on their feet.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:27amAlll we need to do is find out who funded them and expose them as theives.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:36amIs this a great country or what, the government even provides a “thieves and crooks university” Your tax dollars at work, what a great country.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 9:54amThis “IS” what ‘community organizing’ “IS” all about. Obango helped develop these techniques when he worked with them in Chi-town.
Report Post »wzanesdad
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:15pmHow is this even possible? ALL financial matters MUST originate in the house of representatives. In the 2010 elections didn’t we elect reps to eliminate exactly this sort of thing? What rinos are responsible for this?
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:25amPeople OUGHT to have shelter. In a nation as rich and powerful as ours, as just as we aspire to be, no one should be at risk of death from exposure. Especially not the homeless, whose ranks have large populations of the mentally disabled, veterans, and/or both (as is often the case and interrelated cause–veterans with mental disabilities, lack of adequate care and family, left to fend for themselves, truly dishonorable).
Report Post »19Agroundpounder
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 4:30amIs your head up your fargin arse? You are as big as a 25m target. YOU STATED
“Especially not the homeless, whose RANKS have large populations of the MENTALLY disabled, VETERANS, and/or both (as is often the case and interrelated cause–VETERANS with MENTAL disabilities, lack of adequate care and family, left to fend for themselves, truly DISHONORABLE)
Sweet code words. Your still farked commie.
Report Post »19Agroundpounder
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 4:32amSmoke does not go up MY arss. Go share wheat with your own. Gh T88**
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 5:31amExcuse me? So, somebody should have their property rights stripped? I don’t get it. How does my lack make your property mine? Is this the government doing your charitable work for you? They won’t give you the opportunity to give from the heart, they’ll just take it from you, take their 90%, and pass what’s left to the unappreciative. Those of you that have occupied someones property, the government will be knocking on your door soon. They’ll want their 90%. You will have to give over the property you stole to people who are even more stagnant than you were! I learned a lot from the Sesame Street “What if”.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 6:46amSo how many of the “unfortunates” are you opening your home to? How many tents are you setting up in your back yard? The solution starts with you. Perhaps you can start by setting the example for the rest of us. What, you mean you only want to provide “charity” with someone else’s property and money? Hmmm, I thought you cared – guess not really when it comes down to it
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:16amYes…theft of someone’s property is always a good thing in…COMMUNISM.
We either live in a society that is free or we live in a society that says people can steal other’s property based on needs…I choose freedom. And if it was my building it would be protected by the second ammendment.
Report Post »Deepdiver58
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:29amThere are lawful ways to accomplish what you purport. Breaking into a complex and then stealing is considered breaking the law. There are numerous agencies to help the homeless. These agencies provide “lawful” means to sheltering people. Have you opened your home or helped a homeless person? If you have not, then you are only chest-thumping and not really helping the situation.
Report Post »wolverine
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:46amIf they are in such bad shape maybe they need to be institutionalized
Report Post »HowardSternIsABigot
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 7:59amMaybe Spike Lee can pass out your address and some of the hoodies can move in with you. You being so compassionate ands all.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 8:18amLet them get their own shelter
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 8:50am“left to fend for themselves” ??
Sounds good to me!!! Butt out, obama and your communist buddies!
They are “able” enough to commit vandalism and breaking and entering. They are “able” enough to go obtain the tools, and plan, and execute a theft of property.
Doesn’t sound very “disabled” to me.
Our vets have resources available to them. So don’t try to make it sound like THEY are the problem !!
Report Post »How DARE you stereotype homeless as veterans. Vets are not the typical homeless. Drug addicts and alcoholics are much more probable as homeless. SHAME on you for bad-mouthing VETS!!
USING vets for a political argument (and dishonestly at that) is DISGUSTING. What kind if person would do such a thing to the honor of our defenders??
SHAME ON YOU.
Msgt Ret
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 8:50amYou will not get my sympathy with the veteran code word, as a disabled vet I know that if a vet needs help the VA will help, if a vet is homeless it is usually their choice.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 8:59amThey are seeking to eliminate property rights next. Then, they will create an entitlement to property.
Report Post »Once food and shelter are entitlements, we wont NEED any jobs!! We can all sit on our fat butts and just wait for obama to TAKE it from the MAKERS and (minus his 80% handling fee) give it to the TAKERS. Woo hooo! Now there’s a dream for ya! Sit on your butt for 80 years and then die, unless you need surgery sooner, in which case IPAB will have to take into consideration the fact that you cost taxpayers thousands a month just by living. So you won’t get the surgery.
We will then sterilize men and women who are on “the dole” so they won’t cost us more. If they do get pregnant, we will need to murder their unborn babies to avoid their costs. After all, it’s just a tissue mass. (one that moves and reacts to pain and has a heartbeat)
Steve28
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 9:21amThen open up your home to them. I doubt these homeless have mental problems. Just looking for something for nothing.
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 11:34amI can see you’re a true Obama supporter, from each according to his ability, to each according to their needs, ups, sorry, that was Karl Marx, wasn’t it? Did you read the article Mensa Boy, THE PIMPS are taking apartments to set up brothels! Would you like one of them to squat next to your place(actually, maybe you would). Sorry for the ad hominem attack but IMHO anyone who defends ACORN is ‘one taco short of a combination plate’.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 2:57pm@The Third Archon
I thought you were a Progressive Socialist, Archon, but now there’s no doubt. Why don’t you explain to the rest of us exactly how all of your magical ideas will work in the real world? I’m dying to hear it.
People like you tell us how “things ought to be” in our country. Really? You can dictate to me and everyone else how things ought to be in America? You’ve got a lock on the hearts and minds of 400M people. You know how all people will behave in all instances, and you can predict that behavior, can’t you. You never have to worry about those who won’t play along by your “set of rules”, because in theory world, everyone plays by your rules, right?
Oh man, if everyone would just put down their guns all over the world, and all the gun manufacturers would stop making guns, we’d have world peace, wouldn’t we? You’re a freaking genius.
I wonder why no one has thought of all these brilliant things before you came along? We need Archon for President of the World. Then all the injustices will be made right via our benevolant dictator for life. All Hail Archon! All Hail Archon!
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:04amIsn’t this like the same group of Obamites that were saying “Occupy a Home” a while back? When I read the tiltle about teaching the homeless to sqat on city property, I was thinking aren’t they(OWS) already been teaching that for free. I have seen quite a few sqatting on sidewalks and police cars in the news lately. Obama never had a home in his name I hear…did he sqat, occupy or did Ayers purchase it for him when the Ayers’ family decided he was going to be our president when he came of age. We better wake up bc our government is aiding and betting in acts of anarchy and terror with our hard earned money. Like Rush Limbaugh and others have said in so many words our president is a dangerous man. We also need to be finding out what he is really up to in North Korea while we are worrying about Trayvon and (Sgt. Bales, whom is more than likely being set up.) We are already living under communism….we just haven’t totally realized it yet. The 50′s many of us used to know left us like the “splish splash” when we were taking a bath..yep…now we are being“ showered” with the shadow government of communism.
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 6:04amAmen Brother!
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:51amIf we all stop paying our taxes then this s will stop.They cant put 200 million of us in jail.We need to be in the streets over all this s going on.
Report Post »IMAWAKENOW
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:38amWhy in the hell did my wife and I work hard, pay off ALL of our debts, live within our means and pay taxs all these years? I get so mad every time I see another group of non working lazy slackers figuring another way to live on my money. What happens when enough people like me give up and quit doing our share? Stories like this make me want the collapse to happen. Time to let each according to his ability LIVE OR DIE.
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:49amI already talked to my husband about maybe making less money next year and dropping down a tax bracket just to send a message….getting sick of supporting this dog doo.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 5:00amI have lived and worked in several countries where I was not entitled to any social support. The first thing you do is get a job – any that means any job (legal and moral job, that is). I have dug ditches on the blister end of a shovel and washed dishes at night. It’s not hard, and it would certainly be easier for the locals than me to find work.
The trouble is that so many want to go straight from school to multi-million IT owner without going through the intermediate step of hard work and hard knocks. And the blame for this lands squarely on the doorstep of the hand-wringing, vote-catching socialists.
If only their teachers would explain the basic truth; that no man is happier than when he is in hot pursuit of a dollar with a reasonabe prospect of overtaking it.
And don’t give me that “handicapped” nonsense. Charles Krauthammer (a personal hero of mine) is severely handicapped. Did he throw his hands up in defeat and lean back on the taxpayer? No, he did what he was able to do and is one of the best in his business.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:24amAll the people in America are getting ready to be released from the captivity you have been in. How will you handle that wilderness? Or will you melt away? Or will you be able to flee to the mountains in your mind like the Bible says to do, and sacrifice on the alter of God. It’s coming whether you accept it or not.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:28amSixteen trillion, lets just call it what it really is 100 trillion dollars says your lifestyle is going to be knocked down a whole lot.
Report Post »PapaJohannesPatriot
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:08amWho authorized giving our tax money to this organization? Stop all funding immediately and start jailing the people who are giving out instructions on breaking into these buildings. Consider jailing the authorizer[s] of the funding.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:02amthis is great how to teach people to be bums, and using our tax dollars to do it
Report Post »omgfolks
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 10:53amOh come on here. They are not doing anything different that the goverment with their eminant domain laws. I think its time the goverments gave up these buildings they allow to go in disrepair to blighten a neighborhood and devalue properties of others. Banks who repo house they wrote loans on knowing they buyer could not afford. So what someone took away what they tossed aways long ago. There are laws on the books that allow this, thank your lawmakers for that and stop poking at those trying to use the same tactics used on them. Try to push for a law that forces goverment and banks to keep the properties up to community standards and see there that will get you, bottom line is they allow these properties to become exposed to this when they fail to maintain the properties, so now people want to point fingers? Come on stop the double standards.
Report Post »FedUpAlready
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:01amChances are if you have a mortgage, the Federal Gov. already has control of your house, you will have little to say when the SHTF. We will end up like Russia where everyone lives in houses and appartments, with complete strangers, because no one will own anything. The IRS can take your property without DUE Process of Law, the gov will make or ussurp laws to accomodate their position.
Report Post »jspec33
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:54pmThey are just trying get rid of property rights. Remember small incremental steps is how they do it.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:50pmLove it. So those of us suckers who pay taxes are now “ teaching” free loaders how to squat ? Maybe it‘s time to declare a Taxpayer’s Occupy the April 15 tax Day : as in, hey, free-loaders and the Marxists in Washington who are promoting your laziness – We suckers are not going to pay our taxes for that ! Or Maybe a box to check off when you send in your taxes which lists an option an either/ or : send my money to A.) military protection or B.) inner city squatters. Know what box I would check ! Can not believe that America is becoming a Nation of the Entitled rather than a Nation of the Able. Redistribution gone amuck under the Obama Marxist Democrats.
Report Post »dixiedown
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:45pmShameful.
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:40pmWhat??? $240,000.00……………………..I can’t even wrap my mind around this….they need to be arrested for stealing the taxpayers money………Wake up New York!!!
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:38pmIf we don’t raise taxes … we’ll have to cut education … police … and fire fighters … because we just don’t have enough money …
Report Post »Chrison
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:43pmIf we quit funding stupid crap like this, there would be PLENTY of money for police, fire fighters, and other important functions WITHOUT raising taxes!.
Report Post »IMAWAKENOW
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:18amI am to the point of cutting everything. I see the kind of crap the teachers produce in the way of students. What ever happened to building trades, welding, auto repair, agriculture? My high school had all these classes. I walked out the door my senior year and got a great job welding. Now they teach “green” & politically correct classes.
Report Post »The same with fire fighters. Almost all day spent polishing chrome and looking at facebook. How many fires do you read about anymore though with squatters in abandoned buildings there will be a lot more.
wzanesdad
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:44pmabsolutely right crison….and we should charge everyone arrested in ows $100 to be released from jail. The ows organizers can pay for it…..I have no doubt that the dems and soros have plenty of money for this, but it would help fund the police and firefighters that are being drained because of this crap.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:35pmRemember that these ACORN style groups are part of Van Jones declaration:
Pressure, pressure, pressure – top down, bottom up and inside out.
Report Post »Chrison
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:35pmAny group that is funded by tax dollars that “teaches” people how to break the law should have it’s funding cut IMMEDIATELY. If it is a tax-exempt organization, it should have it’s tax-exempt status revoked IMMEDIATELY! This is NOT what tax-payers money and “charitable giving” are about!
Teach them how to get jobs and pay rent!
Report Post »Just in time
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:27pmTax payers are paying for this education? How is this possible? Who said that this is worthy of tax dollars. I want names,and I want them removed from their positions. They have no justification for allocating such things
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:22pmYet the TEA Party can’t even get tax exempt status. These liberal groups get EVERYTHING and then help people commit crimes!
OMG 2012!
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:16pmIf this keeps on, these people are going to have to learn how to squat with a boot up their azz. People are getting tired of this, and sooner or later these people taunting the police and ordinary citizens is going to smoke up really bad.
Report Post »unsafe
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:12pmAnd why are they still being funded any way. Is it not our tax dollars they are useing we should have a say in this. And I’m sure the ppl have said STOP funding this group now…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:12pmBy “Squat”… do they mean… Poop, Give Birth, sit on Land… or all the mentioned? It seems to me Ownership of Property is fundamental in our Legal System… and no one has a Right to Use or Take your Property without your Permission!
Report Post »Uriel
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:10pmBoy, I sure wish I knew some of these “Homless”.
They sound just like the homEless, only cuter.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:06pmhttp://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa137/Mushinto/TravonandGeorge.jpg
ya ya i know
and now to this story , pull their funding , demand a refund, then lock up all trespassers and everyone else involved
they can squat all they want in jail
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 12:02amAgree. These idiot New Age Marxist Democrats have redefined so many words like “ stealing” into ” redistribution.” Have a new definition for them : your new age “ spend tax money for people to squat ” now becomes ” we suckers who pay for these deadbeats will refuse to pay our taxes.” Try to fund Marxist Land with that reality Barack, Joe , Nancy, Harry, and friends ! Know what , Democrats ? Those of us fools who are pulling your wagon to pension -hood extraordinary are letting go of the wagon ! Try finding a solution to that one .
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 25, 2012 at 11:06pmYeah, they are probably teaching them how to squat in homes too for when many Americans abandon their homes because of many troubles.
Report Post »IMAWAKENOW
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 1:22amThey won’t have to murder them. They don’t want to dirty their hands like that. Just quit supporting them and let the rest of us take the blame for what happens when they get hungry and move into our neighborhoods.
Report Post »