The Man Who Stole an Entire Hotel

[@bumblebeegamerreal]

"Before they were regulated like this, regulators can convert an affordable apartment to an unfordable hotel room. It doesnt matter what you call it, the law has it covered" Hmm, sounds like AirBNB's situation today

[@xhivo97]

Wow you're exactly right! And most people just want the discoverability and completely ignored what Airbnb was and what it wasn't.

[@knotcoppercurls]

NYC actually made airbnbs for less than 30 days illegal in late 2023.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

[@XIIchiron78]

The more general solution to this is just to tax the land itself based on the value people would pay to use it (without improvements). That way the property developers have to pay _their_ rent back to the community in exchange for depriving everyone else of the space, which means they have to actually put it to an efficient use, instead of just collecting checks while providing nothing in return. It also replaces all other taxes, which means people keep what they earn, as rent cannot rise to pass on the tax, unlike other things. Because it changes the incentives directly, it works _with_ the market instead of against it, and doesn't create so many loopholes and unintended consequences like top down attempts do. Eventually this leads to vastly improved urban structure and economic participation by the local community, and an abundance of affordable housing as properties compete with each other. Obviously there are a lot of complexities and specifics to this - it's called land value taxation, and is often part of a larger economic philosophy called georgism, if you are interested in reading more.

[@Doug_Hannon]

@@XIIchiron78 Has this actually been implemented anywhere in the world?

[@peter_smyth]

So he may go to prison and get to stay rent-free in a room that isn't his, because he tried to stay rent-free in a room that wasn't his?

[@pixlent]

That's one way to look at it...

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@picksey4736]

depends on if it's a privately owned prison or not. the privately owned prisons charge you for being imprisoned there.

[@RayyanAshraf]

​@@picksey4736 What do they do if you don't pay? Kick you out? Lol

[@mr.sidious9163]

​@@picksey4736Wait a second there are private-owned prisons?!? I cannot even begin to imagine how many ethical, moral and practical problems that poses... Then again, it is the US.

[@deathpigeon2]

Not just stealing a hotel, but stealing a hotel from the Moonies. Awesome.

[@SystemBD]

Indeed. And making a cult pay taxes is just the cherry on top.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@ZantharEos]

@@SystemBD Except he didn't and they didn't. All that really happened is the dude lived in a hotel for a few years and is pending jail time.

[@36sportsawall]

Jong unies?

[@XIIchiron78]

Yeah wait hold on suddenly I'm completely on his side, give him the hotel

[@itsfonk]

Guy could have probably remained in his room with a super cheap lease forever but he had to go full conquistador and the natives are definitely going to serve him on the weekend buffet 😅

[@toolbaggers]

But in reality the conquistadors won.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@Djuntas]

Who would want to stay in a hotel room anyway. Aint they super sparse. Or did you get more than an average apartment for 200 dollars 5 years ago. Id hate to live in such a place anyway.

[@CraigChrist8239]

@@Djuntas With a rent around $3.34/month, I think I could make it work

[@Djuntas]

@@CraigChrist8239 Each their own, but having no sofa or proper TV...Well fuck no kitchen. I cba. Im the weakest link for sure, but I need my shit. Id love to know how he lived through, or if he upgraded the place. When I picture new york hotel room I just imagine a small box, bed, 1 stool and toilet thats prolly OK .

[@macsnafu]

Wait--you mean Amy didn't just come back with a New Yorker *magazine?* That's what I would have done!

[@smithwillnot]

He asked her to steal it

[@olliesutton1804]

Dude probably could have gotten away with a free room for years but got greedy

[@mfaizsyahmi]

being griddy is a new yorker's pastime

[@lisahoshowsky4251]

As soon as you said “Unification Church” I knew he’d stepped on a landmine😅 you don’t mess with cults and their cash flow

[@killernat1234]

What I think is the worst part of this story is that the church gets away with paying a lot of taxes because they are classed as a church, yet they own a hotel

[@jurgenpeters1373]

gets away with NOT paying a lot of taxes

[@artistwithouttalent]

I feel like saying the Moonies are _connected_ to North Korea mischaracterizes their relationship. The Unification Church is "connected" to North Korea in the same way that Shen Yun is "connected" to China.

[@EebstertheGreat]

Yeah, that one seemed weird to me. They support Korean unification and oppose Communism, that's like the two things I know about them. (Well, that and the mass marriages.)

[@RobbyO-p5p]

Yeah, the only connection is Sun Myung Moon was born in what is now NK.

[@mamotalemankoe3775]

Aren't they South Korean? That's where they are suuuuuuuuper big.

[@Drmonstereater1]

This is true. I grew up in the moonies (no longer one, at all) and thought that was a bit of a stretch. IIRC, when moonman was born there was no distinction yet between North and South Korea.

[@state_song_xprt]

This is almost the exact metaphor I was looking for

[@Ramonatho]

"The actual owner is the Unification Church." As someone whose been learning about Abe recently, that made me go oh no.

[@stylesrj]

Why is there an identical comment two posts above by a different person in the same time period?

[@NYKevin100]

@@stylesrj Bots steal comments and repost them to make their accounts seem more legit.

[@stylesrj]

@@NYKevin100 I know, but then how does that one two posts above get hundreds of likes? Also bots?

[@rohilshah4546]

@@stylesrj yes.

[@johnladuke6475]

Well that's what you get for being greedy. He already won big by that little slip of "posession" and could have had free rent in perpetuity... with hotel services. If anything, hire a lawyer to figure out who to sue in what way to get a deed of some sort based on your court order, but don't go trying to steal the whole building. That's just asking for trouble.

[@astrumespanol]

Barretto is a nutcase. He also claims being direct descendant of Colombus

[@chrisli7358]

omg astrum español, i love Astrum

[@gimmethegepgun]

I mean, Colombus was alive over 500 years ago, and his first son had 5 children, so it seems fairly likely that it's true. But you could also likely say that of most of South America.

[@ManiacX1999]

Less nuts than the Moonies? Nah

[@The328th]

I mean, that's totally plausible. There are quite a few descendants of Columbus out there

[@survivedandthriving]

I think that cinches it. If I were a descendant of Columbus I would never admit it to anyone. That this guy is bragging about it shows he is not thinking well at all.

[@genghisdingus]

Government: pay your taxes! Idiot: im in a cult Government: ok nvm lol

[@randomhumanofearth7267]

First i felt bad for the hotel as baretto was hoarding of their services and staying in their rooms without paying but when I heard hotel was owned unity church then I was like screw them

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@MrGksarathy]

I still wouldn't have really felt bad for the large hotel. Barretto just went a bit too far and didn't go hard enough against the Moonies.

[@COPKALA]

In fact no church should own an hotel and get such a tax cut!. They might get tax cut for 'the rest'. Again USA where justice is able to create N-tier treatment.

[@J-wm4ss]

​@@MrGksarathyyeah he went one step worse than cult, he became a landlord 🤮🤮🤮

[@TheElusiveReality]

why did you feel bad for a corporation in the first place lmfao this one hotel room isnt hurting their bottom line significantly, this isn't a mom and pop bed and breakfast its a 94 yr old corporation

[@quikesteve]

I hope Amy is Sam's next partner in the next season of Jet Lag. Can't wait to see what she does to him hahaha.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@100beep5]

It's Toby in season 10, but she might show up in The Getaway

[@artistwithouttalent]

I get the sense that maybe she doesn't want to show her face (which I understand), but it would be fun to see her and have a face to put with the name.

[@carterbrock7971]

@@artistwithouttalent Her face is in some of the seasons during challenges ("Amy's quiz corner")

[@George_M_]

Cult like? They're a straight up cult. Suddenly I'm on this guy's side.

[@KingdaToro]

The only difference between a cult and a religion is whether or not the founder has died yet.

[@Worldsportstalk24]

@@KingdaToro that is in no way the only difference lmao

[@KingdaToro]

@@Worldsportstalk24 A religion is literally just a cult with beliefs that have become sufficiently widespread to survive the death of the person who came up with them in the first place.

[@In_Our_Timeline]

stealing a hotel named newyorker:🗿 Stealing a newyorker:☠

[@groundedgaming]

Stealing New York: 🇺🇸

[@bruhz_089]

I did the second before

[@Redwan777]

​@@bruhz_089Did you survive tho? I can't stand them for 5 minutes

[@LMixir]

@@Redwan777Blindfold and Earplugs (for you, not them).

[@TonyP9279]

That's "business as usual" in New York, assuming the magazine is under $1000.

[@protocol6]

I'm assuming New York prisons charged less than $88/week in 1981. I'm not sure about NY, but many states do charge inmates for room and board.

[@yitzakIr]

Isn't there some song referring to it as the "Hoosegow Hotel" or something?

[@Vackret]

I passed on staying at this hotel during my last trip to NYC because the reviews said the rooms are old and the elevators take forever to get to you. If only I knew I could’ve gotten my very own place there…

[@CouchPotator]

So the entire reason this saga was allowed to happen is because the hotel didn't bother responding to the court case and defaultly lost what would normally be a trivial win.

[@MrDragonorp]

they would still lose cause the law is pretty clear about it, he could get a 6 month lease. the judge just messed up the ruling by saying he had a possion of the room which is not what the law said, but a judge rule is still enforcable until revoked. the department in charge of this had to break the hotel proprety instead of giving him the entire hotel. until of course the hotel went back to court and got it back to only a 6 month lease

[@CouchPotator]

@@MrDragonorp He doesn't just get a 6 month lease because he wants one, he still needs to pay for stuff, which he didn't from the very start. That alone should have been a win for the hotel. Unless I'm misunderstanding what the video meant by "the hotel didn't send anyone to court the first time", they royally screwed up.

[@gy407]

My goal in life: do something really interesting and outrageous that my story ends up in a Half as Interesting video 🙌🙌

[@MondoBigBongo-qi2vz]

I did the math, and in modern money the $3.50 that a room could have been booked for in the New Yorker when it opened is now worth $65.71.

[@Dat-Mudkip]

That's pretty good.

[@BallisticDamages]

I'm glad I finished my coffee before the "Schrodinger's Tesla" bit, that's so stupid why is it funny

[@12isaac00]

At the end of the day if the guy goes to prison he'd still get a free room and daily food servings. Bro just keeps winning.

[@toolbaggers]

Santa Claus is the most notorious break and enter specialist. Just imagine how many crimes he commits per year.

[@The360MlgNoscoper]

The wish list you send him each year legally works as a warrant.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@rayden54]

Not breaking and entering if you're invited.

[@Mis7erSeven]

Child: "Why does Santa only come once a year?" Parent: "Because the rest of the year he is in prison for breaking and entering."

[@cmul7651]

That old stock footage of New York looks lovely.

[@eman6254]

Deserved L for the group indirectly responsible for Shinzo Abe's assassination.

[@yitzakIr]

Say more right now

[@_jpg]

He's kinda responsible himself for associating with the cult and appointing at least 12 other cult associates for government position-

[@daeseongkim93]

ehh abe wasa huge L of a leader tbh

[@Yezpahr]

I have a rule to just not ever buy anything from ads/sponsors, because 99% of them end up on a debunk playlist and get shamed. But if I were to ever go for a service from a sponsor, it would be Ground News probably.

[@MrGksarathy]

In the matchup of Mickey vs the Moonies, I pick Mickey any day. Heck, I hope someone tries this again with the intent of screwing them over.

[@Moonstone-Redux]

Battery powered cannons, anyone?

[@joermnyc]

Fun fact: the D’Angelico New Yorker jazz guitar was inspired by the art deco style of this hotel. The truss rod cover is in the shape of the crown of the hotel.

[@FarlandeR_]

As someone named Mickey i can confirm this is true

[@stormbob]

Hey Mickey, you're so fine...

[@HelloKittyyQueen]

@@stormbobew

[@ImtokyotheDog]

This is absolutely the kind of heist Taika Waititi movie needs to make

[@IliadDreyfus-js9oe]

Yeah, pointless garbage sounds like his style. Maybe they could put a gay black chick as the main character in the theatrical release

[@d3yuen]

0:54 $257.00 or $200.57 😂😂😂😅

[@maltava4534]

Why do we allow religious institution the ability to run for profit enterprises tax free like this? That is insanity.

[@JustinOkamoto]

It’s not tax free in the way a church property is tax free. Not sure the specifics

[@paulelderson934]

Yeah I don't get it either. I can understand that having property tax on a church essentially limits your ability to go to church if you're broke. But this is for profit, like you said. Actually insane. I also feel like any church that overcharges and makes a profit should be treated as a business, not as a religious institute. That means capping the salary and bonuses that employees at a religious institute can receive. But that will all never happen, probably.

[@deannacooper2582]

@@JustinOkamoto Ya - the comments on this issue show me that people know nothing about the UC. Such ignorant superficial comments

[@dariusscovill7970]

because of their lobbying, and because political lobbying is legal

[@Daan9898]

People making use of flawed legislation shouldn't be punished with jailtime, but celebrated for pointing out the flaws indeed.

[@pooki-dooki]

He is being charged with fraud for falsely claiming to be the owner of the entire hotel property, not for making use of the housing regulation for his benefit.

[@TotalxTroll25k]

You got me hyped for the Tacobell Cantina. I’m going to Vegas next week and it’s right across the street from my hotel

[@KoltonHendry]

Tbh Amy has been putting in the work for the vids

[@laminatedsamurai]

Man cost a church $3mil in taxes. I'd call that worth it.

[@SanchoPanza-m8m]

Nah, religion is crucial to the long-term stability of society. Atheist morality is quickly corrupted.

[@tarfeef101]

​@@SanchoPanza-m8m(Laughs in famously corrupt religious organisations all around the world)

[@laminatedsamurai]

If it's that easily corrupted, then it's not morality. And there is so much in religious texts that is absolutely abhorrent, but is described as just and moral. Slavery, murder, mutilation, etc. So try again. Personally, I am of the belief that organized religion is one of the true evils in the world today.

[@zowayix]

@@SanchoPanza-m8m bait

[@adityanarayanpandey]

​@@SanchoPanza-m8m what is blud yapping about

[@amfnyc]

I live very near to this hotel, but never knew it's story. Very interesting.

[@domacenoviny]

0:37 A&O Hostel's Do Not Disturb tag 😅

[@karlw7847]

Honestly more surprised by the fact that the hotel is owned by the moonies

[@kieronharrison]

Got major Habbo Hotel nostalgia from the channel logo and this video’s thumbnail

[@TheElusiveReality]

honestly it shouldnt be that hard to find some hotels that this applies to if you look up old newspaper ads with their rates

[@AlecInstant]

Stole a hotel? Basically me in Sims 2 on the DS

[@retuddedwolf]

3:00 i've done that twice too

[@MichaelPuterbaugh]

Good choice on taking the TB Cantina food to go, that location doesn't have the best reputation.

[@AutismSingsHD]

Future HAI error: 200 dollars and 57 cents. You said 257 dollars.

[@pxl9365]

This felt like a taco bell add for a second

[@ericherde1]

The Moonies (Unification Church) are tied to South Korea, not North Korea. They also had ties to Japan, but the ruling party in Japan has been severing those ties recently, for … some … reason.

[@kierann.1]

this is so random i love it 😭 this is half as interesting as a video on north korea tho

[@Ethonoris]

I thought the New Yorker Hotel was owned by Wyndham?

[@LazyAviationDog]

New Yorker hotel is so original for a name

[@joseville]

When does the New Yorker become the New Yorkest?

[@LazyAviationDog]

@@squishy-tomato lol

[@laughingman7882]

Bro should've stopped at free rent for life 😂😂😂

[@4RILDIGITAL]

Incredible tale of legal loopholes, skillful leeching, and the expensive cost of ignorance.

[@peplerr]

btw this Barreto guy was all over Brazilian news last week I don't think HAI mentioned he's Brazilian). He gave an interview saying he's the successor of Columbus, friends with Biden, an indigenous leader, and also owns all of America (except Canada and the USA, which are owned by his partner). You know, the usual stuff.

[@Markyroson]

I was hoping you’d cover this!

[@Leo-zv2hs]

When I saw the article about this I just knew it would end up on this channel lol

[@Rudster14]

1:38 don't you mean more than $350 per night or $88 per week?

[@LawIV]

Kudos for making a church/ cia front pay taxes

[@LawAndBedlum]

0:45 Schrodinger's Tesla 😂😂😂😂

[@charleyb.8286]

excited to see this on the next season of Leverage

[@ratto751]

Of all the groups he could've picked a fight with, he chose the Moonies.

[@selfiekroos1777]

Ths channel is gold

[@technetium9653]

Damn, just read the NYT article too ?

[@AlexM-xj7qd]

HAI MISTAKES: 0:55 should say "two hundred dollars and fifty seven cents", you said $257 😅

[@EpicGhostShadow]

BRB, gonna go steal a hotel

[@tommyleite-x3o]

it is because of situations like this that we have professional squatters in the US. A judge is suppose to interpret the law and apply it according to the situation. No place in the world offers squatters what the us offers... and since we are in this subject, CA and NY seems to be perfect places for professional criminals. You can shoplift less than 950 and most places won´t even bother calling the police. You can squat in a property and live rent free for a couple of months to a few years without paying anything. So basically if you take your time to plan these things, you can eat and live for free in these places.

[@harshu346]

I read it in the news and was really fascinated by it

[@ryansonnenberg]

Is that Sam as a kid on the Do not Disturb sign?! lol

[@lorincnyulasz7579]

The schrodingers tesla situation would have been solved quite quickly by the smell

[@votekyle3000]

Fun fact about the Unification Church, son of the founder, Justin Moon, is the CEO of Khar Arms, a successful gun company.

[@LordlyJeremy]

The Hotel New Yorker, he's dead on the floor, the body of Nikolai lies...

[@sarahlyinn9626]

I’m sorry, but this is at least 3/4 as interesting. Like the man went against a cult.

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

2:36 Zach and Cody mode SuperVinlin

[@YvonTripper]

Definitely more New York building owners need to go to jail when they commit multiple acts of fraud

[@idwtgymn]

Why would you hope someone who made a concerted long term effort to steel property does not go to jail? That is messed up.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

At least Amy got something to eat this time. 🤣

[@chubbymouse3844]

Schrödinger’s Tesla

[@Hide.the.Salami]

3:04 that happened to my buddy eric

[@romulusnr]

Amy should have nabbed a copy of the New Yorker magazine and brought that back

[@chibar]

I'll be that guy, that is not the cantina across the street from the New Yorker

[@harshu346]

He should have been happy with having one room with free room service for forever .... But greed is what killed him

[@1skinnypuppy]

That’s a good . Good job, appreciated.

[@Diana.Carter]

I guess he really wanted to make a reservation... for himself!

[@Unix_0]

Mr.Krabs at it again

[@BolioSati]

Is the audio overblown for anyone else? (I compared this video to other ones from this channel and others just to make sure). It's not egregious, but definitely has some distortion.

[@markieman64]

I'm just back from New York on my first trip to the States. Like literally just back. I saw this hotel from mines. Very (half as) interesting timing for the video.

[@NeisamPi]

I can’t believe Sam from jet lag got featured on HAI

[@austinrossi3707]

I was staying there just last week. Would've been nice to know this trick then :P

[@AMD7027]

I stayed at the hotel about 15yrs ago, it is a FADED remnant of a bygone time.

[@michael-michaelmotorcycle]

My mom was likely conceived in that hotel. My grandparents got married there, she was born 9 months later 👀🤦‍♂️

[@TheHylianBatman]

And they said that robber barons only existed in the 20th century.

[@The_DASHER]

HAI is not pregnant but he never fails to deliver

[@LoonaStanGTNH]

mother

[@jeffreybernath6627]

The video's sponsor is Ground News!? I was sure it was the Taco Bell Cantina across the street from the New Yorker hotel!

[@subparnaturedocumentary]

the city could be getting an extra 2.9 million if it werent for that ridiculous tax free status for "religious"property

[@odustbrown1836]

0:52 Decimal Point.............

[@pleappleappleap]

What is the discounted rate to which he would have been entitled for his six month lease?

[@groundedgaming]

The New Prisoner - Mickey Baretto

[@gustavgans3760]

3:04 Come on we all have at least done it twice

[@Adriano_leal]

I believe he claims to be the owner of the entire American continent too, wild dude