Why He’s Holding Out in East Harlem, Despite the Gentrification | Times Documentaries

[@team69racing11]

$110 a month in nyc for past 50 years..man dude got a deal!!

[@patrickmcshane7658]

it was Harlem, for 50 years.

[@gemini2633]

@@patrickmcshane7658harlem is in MANHATTAN and they are trying to make it all sky rise buildings.

[@zoltankovai1839]

@@gemini2633 It wasn't Manhattan, it was Harlem.

[@gemini2633]

@@zoltankovai1839 whether you like it or not Harlem is in MANHATTAN.

[@klext]

Na bro you dont get it lol Its. Harlem. If you dont get it then you not familiar

[@aomine6817]

Harvey Epstein - what an unfortunate mix of names in 2020, lol

[@Forgoneconclusion.]

LMAO

[@mctransportation9831]

I think it's a good name.

[@TheSaintBigFoot]

I did the " ooof " when I heard lol

[@Delta4ms]

$110.00 a month for rent. No wonder the owners wanted to knock down the building.

[@2001lextalionis]

Its fairly SOP for some buildings in NYC to have old school rent control pricing locked up. Often its someone's grandma who has lived there forever. Sometimes its a children of the original tenant but they are often grandfathered into posession. Situations like this one often boil down the diligence and work ethic of the landlord.

[@shutterfirestudios6554]

Delta4ms that was only him since he lived there for 50 years and had rental price protection . Listen close next time

[@tjones2260]

ShutterFire Studios Dumb dumb, you should rather listen well next time. The guy is 58. Are you saying he was able to own a place at the age of 8? He has been living there for the last 50 including his childhood with parents. Do you want everything spelt out for you? How old are you?

[@MsKewi-NYC]

He's a senior citizen they get rent control because they are living in a fixed income. It should be that way American senior citizens should be protected!

[@tjones2260]

NegroDeSangue I agree with you 💯%. That's the realism the owner has to face. He doesn't own the place. Its not his property. You can't takeover someone's property and say because you've lived there for years so you are entitled to it. How does he expect the plumbing etc to be maintained on $110 a month. $110 cannot even buy my spouse and me a real good dinner. Why do they even have to pay him to walk away from a property that's not even his in the first place. Even the $50,000 is more than fair.

[@maxdondada]

This infuriates be to no end. 30 years ago these people would'nt set foot in East Harlem

[@michaelshaw2123]

facts

[@sanguinesurfer]

30 years ago he should have got a mortgage

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

30 years ago harlem was a crack infested shithole.

[@TrollinOn22s]

@@sanguinesurfer The mortgage won't save you cuz property tax would increase and if you're on a fixed income you're screwed. My Aunt sold her triple decker for over 2 mil so property tax will be an issue

[@dymenchuns]

When i was growing up in East Harlem in the 80s and 90s they would've never came up town, now there moving in charging like 3k for a twobedroom and the apartment holder rents out the other room and living room while the Hispanic community is be pushed out.

[@salvadorcampos4271]

I grew up in East Harlem. So did my wife. We are both hispanic. When we had our children, we desperately wanted to raise our family in the neighborhood we called home. The very same neighborhood that retained all of our memories and the very same neighborhood that reflected our heritage. We wanted our children to experience that heritage as we experienced it. However, after 4 years and two apartment moves, we came to accept the fact that we could no longer afford to live in the neighborhood that once held some of the cheapest apartments in the city. The irony is that we worked so hard to obtain careers that allowed us to earn middle class salaries only to be priced out of the very same neighborhood that once held some of the poorest people in the city. We foolishly assumed that similar rents (with inflation) would be available when we set out to raise our family in East Harlem, but this was not the case. While searching for our 3rd apartment (after being forced out of our previous apartment due to a new landlord that wanted to raise the rents up nearly 50%), we found that our rent range was no longer suitable for a comfortable life in East Harlem. The minuscule apartments that were being offered for prices that would match entire house mortgages was ridiculous. As such, we were forced to expand our search to other neighborhoods.We ended up moving to the Bronx, where we received more space for our money. For the same rent we were paying in East Harlem for a cramp apartment, we now have an apartment in the Bronx that is in a brownstone, encompasses an entire floor at about twice the square footage, and has private access to a similarly sized backyard. While the space of the apartment and access to a private backyard is wonderful, we still regret leaving East Harlem, our home. We plan to make another attempt to move back to East Harlem when our current lease is up, but I have little hope for a positive outcome. I am not against people of different races moving into a neighborhood, but I am against the notion that such moves must come coupled with the decimation of an established cultural within said neighborhood. Unfortunately, money talks and the less fortunate walk.

[@arktzen]

"i'm not against gentrification" - bro, what?

[@mctransportation9831]

Somebody lived in that neighborhood before Puerto Ricans. That's just the way the ball bounces. NYC is an overpriced shithole, anyways.

[@aaronsanchezz]

Nobody ever told u to buy property? If u had just bought instead of rented you could stay forever or be rich when u sold by now because of the gentrification...

[@heatscouters7800]

Do you ever move back to east Harlem?

[@manaspradhan8041]

Everyone should walk, cars destroyed America

[@kitthornton2336]

Sad thing is, since the landlord is going bankrupt (and they knew that when they made the 800k offer) the debt to him will probably be discharged in bankruptcy. He doesn't have an expensive lawyer to rep him at the bankruptcy court. The new owners after the foreclosure will figure a way to wriggle out of the settlement. He just got screwed all around. This is reality in Corporate America, folks. The rich get whatever they want, the working class gets the shaft. And you have zero recourse from the law. Something drastic is going to have to happen, if anything ever does, before this will change.

[@eddenoy321]

Kit Thornton You are likely very close to what really happened.

[@zman9315]

This is capitalist america. This is why we need socialism

[@benjaminday3868]

This is socialism 100 dollar rent. When you put up $100,000 for a down payment on a house. Just to have a cockroach move in and tell you how you are going to run the building.

[@TheMarkofZio]

Maybe if he wasn't a complete dunce and just taken the money and moved, he'd be fine. Stop blaming all of your problems are people smarter than you

[@mickelsmickle8668]

Kit Thornton same here in the uk its the same all over the uk disgusting and we always point fingers at other countries but we do this to other people

[@jaykowsh1027]

It's possible that he knew he wouldn't get the whole 800k and that's why he didn't budge on the offer. It just sounds too good to be true.

[@newjerseylion4804]

Yup he need his case reopened.

[@elderaarondavis1]

But even with 800,000 dollars, he still can’t afford to buy an apartment in East Harlem, can he?

[@vaughnamir.6457]

@@elderaarondavis1 uh...

[@Tata-iu3fy]

@@elderaarondavis1 he could move here, buy a beautiful house for 400k, and keep the other half.

[@michaeljofat7895]

Money up front then we could talk..

[@toddtoure7041]

800k offer should be on paper and Notarized as a Legal Document/Instrument. Otherwise, hot air. He needs to Place a Lien on the Owner for the Remainder of this 800k agreement.

[@umiami85]

Todd Toure 1. This was a court order. This was a lot more than a “notarized legal document”. 2. The bank that is foreclosing has priority over your suggested lien. This doesn’t mean the bank, after a foreclosure, can evict this tenant. It just means that the foreclosure would wipe this lien out.

[@DavidPacJr]

There's hardly any Puerto Ricans there. They have all moved mostly to Florida. I'm from the Bronx and now I relocated to Florida as well.

[@DavidPacJr]

C. Lincoln like if you're not hated more lmao

[@SpiralBreeze]

David Da Twin They don't call Miami the the sixth Burrough for nothing.

[@menardtexsampson3745]

David Da Twin Good for you nice

[@FreakyKing2]

Orlando?

[@hereisayana8207]

Yep I'm black and from NYC... When I went to visit I didn't see as many P.R's or black Americans there either... Now there are other immigrants there and the Flavor that the city used to have is no longer there

[@TheRebelutionary1]

"Takes the flavour away from this neighborhood" we know exactly what he means....less hot sauce, more mayo.

[@MichaelNaness]

REBELutionary1 more rice actually. The Chinese moving kn

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Still. The neighborhoods weren't well cared for. I saw paper on the ground. If you love community, don't litter and wash the windows.

[@ronthemogul]

Michael Naness Caucasians

[@syed2194]

Michael VR God Forbid you let rich people force the poor who have history and family in an area out

[@sadem1045]

REBELutionary1 Personally, i tend to steer clear of both of those condiments

[@marvinbenjamin.]

New York been lost its flavor since 2000 and it's getting worser all these hill Billy shops out here

[@xerejuneseve6333]

There will be only millionaires running in the pijamas man.

[@mamabambina3829]

I would've said "you want me out now?", "I want a certified cheque tomorrow for the $800,00 and I'll be out"

[@aaronsanchezz]

Fr you could literally buy a nice house in Harlem for 800k 3 years ago... jackpot

[@eddieBoxer]

I'll take 100 Grand and I'll move out.

[@seansmith4150]

Bingo that’s what I’m thinking

[@BethGrantDeRoos]

Sad thing is Chinese citizens can buy property here in the states but we cannot buy property in China.

[@johnl.7754]

Beth Grant-DeRoos yes you can purchase a property in China but you can not get citizenship.

[@reconquista4011]

Whether or not this is true, property in a country should be constricted to its residents or at the very least be heavily limited. The Chinese especially are investing heavily into international housing markets, which HURT residents of that country with continuously and continuously increasing costs that ultimately become unaffordable.

[@isaiahbruckhaus]

You can always have a shell company to own property. Granted in mainland China that requires a joint venture but those are mainly intended for "know-how transfer" (though technically circumventable by joint venturing in hong-long, macau or really brave Taiwan). In the end you own the building it just your joint venturer owns the IP to that building (only dangerous for architects).

[@testkonto7781]

You need to have stayed in China for at least a continous period of 1 year. Furthermore you need have a valid permit(work permit, family reunion permit, student permit etc). It's not easy for us to buy property there, but it's doable. The chinese elite are buying up massive amounts of propery in the US and UK because A) its a great investment B) you do not have to be a citizen to purchase real estate in these countries so its a very easy process.

[@isaiahbruckhaus]

Pepe Aryan True. But its luckily not that easy for Chinese to funnel their money out of China to do so. Essentially they need pay a foreigner in China who then buys and passes the deed back to China, as they can't really transfer their money out of the country (at least that was the situation a few years ago). Ergo all the empty real estate that gets built in China (they curbed it now to some degree) but a lot of this is basically and attempt to turn their wealth into some "asset" the government can't just take away from them too easily, though I do not understand how these object are stable investment vehicles, there is obviously not enough demand for them yet they pay prices for newly build apartments that no one will live in the foreseeable future... causing me serious head scratching 🤔

[@feartactics]

As the last tenant, he was forced out with a caveat he would receive 800k. And 18 months later he's only received 50k and the landlord has declared bankruptcy. He was forced into a choice he didn't want to make because the court wouldn't let him stay in his apartment, and now he doesn't even get what he was promised.

[@sonic2batt]

But what can the landlord do with $110 a month?

[@smrk2452]

Sounds like a trick of Satan. I swear these developers are evil.

[@ahervert551]

but never was his appartment, he never was the owner. How the landlord can survive with 110us per month

[@jalenr]

$800,000 or fly infested apartment? Take the money, retire, become a real estate developer in Rhode Island or something...

[@ShidaiTaino]

Jalen Rideaux he didn’t get the full amount

[@Wefigureit]

You guys who are judging him for not taking the money are so dumb. Is 800,000 really worth all your childhood all your memories?

[@SilentCheechGaming1991]

@@Wefigureit definitely, yes.

[@robinsss]

he is insane to turn that money down : he could live off of 300,000 for 6 years and put 500,000 in a high interest savings account :

[@drinkingpoolwater]

for real, for that much he could prolly move into an apartment in midtown until he dies.

[@Misssmexxii]

I really want to stay in NYC I grew up here and there is now where else I want to live. But the rent is getting ridiculous. Ppl are trying to sell you a studio apartment with NO BATHROOM for $2,000 dollars. WTF?! I might have to move. 😥

[@umichgal1]

That’s criminal.

[@MelGibsonFan]

Prices have dropped a bit since COVID hit but it’s still too expensive to get a home.

[@MelGibsonFan]

We’re moving out in a month. We finally folded. Compared to cities out west NY is a nightmare.

[@joshuagreen5820]

Complaining about getting $800000 for his apartment. That’s a huge house on a lake in Houston, TX.

[@linzierogers6227]

If the house is in Houston the lake had better not be near the Gulf coast.

[@Grimmes12]

It's been at least 18 months since he left the apartment and he is still waiting on $750k out of the $800k

[@vanshires]

It is hard to feel bad about someone so dumb. Lol

[@ericg1149]

Most true New Yorkers don’t want to move out, learned this from most of my family.

[@marcelvalue]

He only got 50,000... they lied and never paid the rest. Sounds like he will have to live in a Trash neighborhood

[@johnathanclark79]

$800,000, Hello New Jersey! Or move down south and retire with $400,000 in the bank.

[@newjerseylion4804]

He never got 800000 dollars. Company of only gave him 50k and filed for bankruptcy.

[@sarahiconde3732]

He should have taken it when it was first offered.. he waited to long and the landlord went bankrupt..

[@Remer20]

He never owned that apt. to begin with. People confuse rent, and especially rent control with ownership.

[@someguy9897]

They're pretty clueless of the real world

[@gtas321]

In New York that's easy to do.

[@hd-xc2lz]

Brush up on your understanding of NYC rent control law, then post again.

[@tlc4369]

Hmmm, Michael, let's see now. 1- He was living in conditions that the local vermin could protest. 2- His funds were limited if not non-existent. 3- Most if not all of his neighbors and friends had left, if not deserted him. Yes, It all adds up! He thought he "owned" the apartment. You are the confused one here buddy. As well, any who agreed with your poorly thought out comment. Put your thinking cap on before you post another comment.

[@user-dq7ms8ir4c]

​@@tlc4369 Put your thinking cap on buddy, he didn't own the apartment, he paid rent, and fair market value would be ten times his rent. Thats life. In what world do you think 100-150 a month is acceptable?

[@Paul-se4qh]

It actually is really sad. Any long time New Yorker will tell you the same thing: Manhattan has changed so much over the past few years and has lost so much of it's character. What used to make this city special as now gone. Sometimes I walk the streets of the city and it just feels like a completely different place. The character is definitely not the same anymore. I hear that even parts of the Bronx are getting gentrified, though I never go there myself.

[@NotALiberalSoSkipTheScript]

But look on the bright side... Wealthy New York elites make more money. Isn’t that what’s really important?

[@aaronsanchezz]

They literally been saying that about nyc every generation for the last 300 years. Lol

[@aaronsanchezz]

@@NotALiberalSoSkipTheScript anyone can... if u buy instead of waste money on renting, paying someone else for nothing...

[@NotALiberalSoSkipTheScript]

@@aaronsanchezz You know what, you gotta good point. Every generation does do the “it’s not the same”. But that is actually true. As more places are “modernized” things become more standardized. Since we’ve got a high GDP, and a near-constant entitlement to entertainment because of it money has become the new standard, along with attention. For instance as well, I live in what used to be a very rural place, that was once literally a swamp in MS. As more money circulates, it begins the cycle of trying to make as much money as possible, we see things being made and catered to the people who have the most money. Now a lot of people, good, conservative, honest, hardworking people with roots to their community stetching back two centuries ago (almost) are displaced because it’s “not being utilized efficiently enough” and big businesses, and real estate can expand, and make houses designed for people out of state. Same with how business collapse as more urbanization occurs leaving less of the community. The destruction of the local ecosystem for “progress” has destroyed places we hunt, fish, grow, and enjoy as part of a heritage. Meaning more of it just fades away. People in the US, even Conservatives who I am a part of and was taught part of that was CONSERVATION not only dont care, they see it as something that’s gonna benefit them because they’ve been told “whoever has the most money is the one whose right” not realizing that not only is that not true, it will be detrimental to them when it happens. You can’t expect people to be happy that their homes, jobs, and livelihoods are destroyed for an authoritarian, corporate ideal. At that point we become sheep who will grovel at the feet of folks who allow us entertainment and comfort in exchange for scraps and blind obedience. A lot of people already are and encourage it. I

[@danielrebecca9049]

The crazy thing is this is effecting the whole country it’s a domino effect the people with money moving to nyc are changing nyc’s culture and then people from nyc in response are leaving and changing the culture of the southern states and other areas they go to. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the cultures change in the next 30 years

[@MattSezer]

He has the audacity to say "I wish there were more laws to protect the tenants out here." What about the laws that enabled you to get an over 90% discount on rent in an apartment that you don't own and then getting offered $800k to move out? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see all of NYC become characterless glass towers, but rent control is an incomplete solution that only benefits the select few, some of whom don't need it financially.

[@fruitypebblezz007]

Matt Sezer Do you live in NYC Matt? This isn’t the first and only case of tenants being forced out of their homes. Most don’t even see 50k. The city has gone through so many changes in such a short time and the culture and “flavor” as he so beautifully stated, is leaving right along with them. They are pressuring so many people (and it’s mostly the elderly fighting in those courtrooms) to move out of the neighborhoods they built in order to make room for lame bagel and coffee shops that they try to market as neighborhood spots like “Inwood” something or “Sobro” something else. Meanwhile, the people that made Inwood Inwood and south Bronx south Bronx are long gone. I respect the man because no amount of money is worth the disrespect that gentrification is bringing to the city.

[@gon7155]

Ezeee oh no now you have to pay fair market price. Peace hums

[@MattSezer]

What's not fair is some people having to pay "un"fair market prices and some people not having to pay for it (even if they have the money), in many cases causing the landlords to raise the rent even more because they're losing money off people like him. Protecting a few old holdouts like him protected by laws from 40+ years ago isn't going to solve the affordable housing crisis in NYC.

[@pmexplore]

did you watch the video till the end? the landlord did not follow through with the 800K in many of these buyouts people never get paid the entire amount. Its a known thing in the industry. Radiolab has a good podcast on tactics landlords use to chase tenants out. things have not changed much since post ww2

[@MS-37]

Matt Sezer I was blown away when he said how little he pays... He supposably is in construction, he could move away from the city with that 800K plus all the money he SHOULD have saved.

[@StaleWawaHoagie]

$110 dollars a month? That’s the problem, he got too comfortable. In the last 39 years he could have saved money to buy a house, or invest. He could have gotten free college just for being a low income minority. I’m Puerto Rican and it’s a shame ... that community is a prime example of what years of being complacent can do to a person.

[@CEWIII9873]

agreed he could have planted a plantano tree and made money selling the fruit!

[@mickeysantana725]

Omg my family was the last tenets on 150th Street in the Bronx when I was younger .Today, it's a juvenile detention center on Brook Ave. People got caught all the time stealing pipes, but my mother hung on until the housing authoritie got her into a 5 bedroom apartment in Housing ❤🎉😊

[@stuff642]

I live in a somewhat rural town in Kentucky, and it’s a similar situation here. Lived here all through my childhood, and worked hard to save up money to buy a small farm here one day. It’s always been a dream of mine. But now that I’ve gotten myself to that point, all of the land and old farms are being bought up by out of town developers who sell 1/4 acre lots for $80,000. Feels like the harder I try, the further behind I get. Sad to see the culture of your home being choked out.

[@NotALiberalSoSkipTheScript]

Same here. Biloxi is one of the cities that are “up and coming” and property has skyrocketed, and people are being forced to move for almost not money.

[@youngz13o]

Why the heck are people blaming the chinese for this dudes problem? Its not even a problem, he barely paid rent living in manhatten for years and now he got offered $800/$50k to move out... you got to be kidding me

[@mickelsmickle8668]

Matthew Ng its not the point its the principal he was paying his agreed rent

[@youngz13o]

Principle? More like your liberal views just don't understand basic economics. Your missing the fact that hes a renter. Its not his home. If you paid for something 10 years ago at a store for $1, would you go back to that store and expect it to be $1 today? Of course not! What this guy is doing is like going back to the store and saying, "hey, I didn't agree to pay for this for this price because I paid $1 for this before"

[@mickelsmickle8668]

Matthew Ng here you bit its not as black and white as that ots bigger than him what about the Rest of the people affected by this whats wromg with caring for people's well in my life experiences i realized you could be on top the world one day then and at the bottom the next

[@lelabrooks04]

Question ? Are some people afraid to step away from what is known to the unknown? Has he ever ventured out from what's familiar ? 800k would of bought a nice home key word HOME . Actually less than that and have left towards retirement. I grew up on Long Island but been gone since the early 80s. I dont miss it.

[@orangerightgold7512]

Its okay to hate asians in the u.s apparently theyre not minorities.

[@elaustraliano]

I’ve walked past this building so many times wondering what was going on with it. Now I know!

[@soyeahiknow]

Don't know if you lived there 3 years ago, but the building that is an empty lot next door was a burned out building. What the developers did was they wanted to take that burned out building and this building in the video and combine the two tax lots into one tax lot. That way, they can build a taller and bigger building.

[@MA-rn2xp]

I'm from here and they're already doing that. There's even another new building they're working on that used to have a supermarket for affordable prices. They closed it to build a new building over it.1

[@yerrboi6842]

Here after the building burned down today

[@donniemoder1466]

It is a sad story and I fell sorry for Ray's loss. The landlord knew all the angles of the legal situation. Ray may have been too attached to his home, everyone has sentimental attachment to their home, especially if it has been for years. But the whole area has changed around him. He maybe should have taken a deal earlier and asked for all the money upfront before he moved anything out of the apartment. Landlords know all the angles. Landlords really are loathe to repair rent stabilized or rent controlled apartments. Ray could probably find an apartment in his neighborhood or a neighborhood of his choice with the buyout money. I hope he got more money after this story was made.

[@CEWIII9873]

the money went up his nose

[@TheModernInvestor]

He's a fool.... im sorry.... $800,000 even in NYC can buy you a 2 bedroom apartment in Queens, or Brooklyn or even Riverdale in the bronx with $300,000 left over to do with as you wish. $800,000 in Virginia or ANY southern state will allow you to buy multiple houses that can be rented out leaving you with around $6000 in rent from your tenants AND you'll still have around 100k left to play with, I think hes just being stubborn. $800,000 to move out of a crumbling building in an area thats not THAT safe, is a totally fair amount.

[@goldenferrari7785]

The Modern Investor facts not to mention 800k can get you 3 bedroom 1 living and 2 bathroom like in my neighborhood

[@beyeseparateswe3425]

I agree

[@SonoranTel]

Some ppl dont want the money, some people can do without the greed and live humble.. as you see it was a game anyway he only got 50,000

[@philleotardo8623]

He took the money and the scammed him.

[@geoffreyphipps2542]

I agree with him in principle...he lived there most of his life...and that neighborhood was the center of Puerto Rican culture...I grew up there as child and it was beautiful. And to be his age to start over in a new neighborhood is very hard.

[@Eli08ish]

I really feel for this guy because he is emotionally attached to his building and the apartment. However, with $800,000.00 he could have obtained another apartment in the area, bought a co op or condo and retired peacefully. The building was condemned anyway!

[@JBird-bv6zp]

He Did if you finish the video he stated they have only paid him 50k of that 800k and he probably won’t get it.

[@Eli08ish]

@@JBird-bv6zp I watched the entire video. If he had taken their offer in writing the 1st time he may have gotten it. Of course they aren't going to give him 800k after they have been battling with him for over a year. He was screwed.

[@JBird-bv6zp]

@@Eli08ish You really said that lmfao I hope your life is miserable. Bootlicking maggot

[@helloiam2394]

You are assuming they ever intended on actually paying him. Bottom line is they didn’t deliver on an empty promise. He was right to hold out since they were bluffing. Sad for him

[@Eli08ish]

@@helloiam2394 Assume these 🌰🥜

[@M4TTYN]

they need to make room for the vegan, GMO free, hip n new coffee shop bro sucks but that's where the *basic instagram big bucks* at

[@KingDayDayDay00]

M4TT EXE hipsters have ruined cities and continue to do it. NY has been hit hard by this and so has places like SF and LA

[@lanmola]

that’s a lot more than i got when i was forced to leave after my landlord sold the place. they raised my rent by $500 then forced me out with endless construction/destruction

[@Slideyslide]

The world changes bro. 800k is crazy fair to get this guy to move out of an apartment that he doesn’t even own! Gentrification sucks but what can you do. Should have bought property when it was cheap instead of renting and expecting the city to never change.

[@afeldman1234]

$110 per month, are you kidding me? For over 5 decades?!?! At over 600 months of rent, and without accounting for the fact that his rent has been lower in the past before his rent control increases, he has paid at most $66,000 in total rent. For half a century of living in manhattan?!?! Luckiest guy I’ve ever seen. This is why rent is so high for everyone else. When you have a set group of apartments all around the city that are just conveniently cheaper for some people because they fall under certain income requirements and win a lottery, the rent goes up for everyone else. Landlords aren’t going to give up potential earnings just to be “fair.” They make up the lost rent from rent controlled units by increasing the rent for everyone else. On top of which, he was offered $800k for his property rights. Why he didn’t jump at that without hesitation doesn’t make sense to me. Easily could afford to live out the rest of his life in the same neighborhood. He could even buy property in it. Construction workers in nyc make an average of $43k per year(quick google search, may be off), and from what I’ve seen that’s on the low side. Unless this guy’s expenses on every other aspect of his life are through the roof, where’s the rest of his money? All that money he’s not had to spend on market rent? His savings? It’s 100 year old decrepit building that needs new life. Newer more expensive building means quality is better, property taxes (that affect everyone living in nyc) are higher, and new people can enter an existing real estate market. Lastly, when did living in some specific place become a right? Unless you own the property, have property rights, or are a tenant on a contracted lease no one deserves to live somewhere just because it’s what’s been going on for some time. Things change. People change. Neighborhoods change. You have to keep up or keep moving. There is no “fair” in life. I’m paying $1850 a month to live in a much smaller apartment because that’s what it costs to live in the place I want and choose to live in. If I don’t like it I’ll leave and live elsewhere. Out of the 8 units in my building, 2 are rent controlled. I can’t even imagine what stabilized rent would be for me if we had those two apartments at market rate. I’d save thousands of dollars a year in rent. But nope, gotta make sure I subsidize the people that have been here for some time (or illegally passed down an apartment) because..........?

[@Tsuki04wolf]

That's not how that works but ok

[@afeldman1234]

Could you explain what's wrong?

[@oliverb1180]

Chill out, people like that are not the ones screwing you over.

[@Raygun34]

Anthony Feldman Did you even listen he only got 50k of the 800k. And why cry about the small population of rent controlled homes

[@monember2722]

Anthony Feldman exactly living in an apartment is not a right. You dont have a right to remain indefinitely in a building owned by someone else.

[@kikalb1358]

$800K is alot of bread ain't gon hold you!! I understand wanting to stay & everything but get out my guy!! But 50K out of a promised 800K is F'd up they tryin to do you filthy

[@legalman2891]

a lady who cannot lift up a 4x4 beam owns the hole building ! People build houses for living And can't afford to buy one

[@oliverb1180]

world gone mad

[@playlistmaker8472]

Okay

[@YandaWatch]

Just build a house then gawd! /s

[@angelgjr1999]

Move away from cities. Although even houses in the middle of nowhere are going up to 250k.

[@sasfunc6170]

She's representing a company from China. Think about that.

[@jaybartgis5148]

He is turning down $800k and has been paying $100 a month, and he's being painted as some sort of a victim?

[@hearts4yayah]

ofc u not gon understand🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

[@benjaminday3868]

The best part of this story, he doesn't get the money.

[@scj3188]

You are a disgusting cave beast.

[@Super165i]

If someone offered me $800,000, I’d take it

[@newjerseylion4804]

He never got 800000 dollars. Company filed bankruptcy. And this dude just got kicked out his apartment.

[@alorgb7440]

@@newjerseylion4804 if he said yes immediately he would have probably got the money

[@GUCCI_777xz]

Me too

[@Swagalious689]

Company folded which make sense. Building is a health hazard at 110 a month hes technically getting paid to live there. However he did get 50,000 he should leave. Dude could prob get a 2,500sqhouse in another state if he negotiated and left his apartment.

[@LowescC]

$800,000 ????......should've taken the first offer, dude

[@redcash123]

Cameron Lowes that was the only offer, but were'nt u watching the video ? It's about preserving culture.

[@Grimmes12]

He did take it and at least 18 months after taking it he is still waiting for the remaining $750k to be paid to him.

[@bacchanal888]

Trey Diggz if he truly cared he would take the offer. The place is an eye sore.

[@TOTayo-]

Mr. Tirado apparently passed away in 2022.

[@MrAntihumanism]

$800k? He should move out LOL.

[@irregulargamer1352]

Seriously. with that type of money he could have gotten a seriously nice house fully paid somewhere in a less popular suburb and just worked a basic job to pay property tax and bills to keep the left over money from draining.

[@newjerseylion4804]

Yes but that 800000 almost never get paid. The landlords use some excise like legal fees and maintained to Sinatra the from the 800000 dollars. This dude never say one penny of that 800000 dollar. He just got kicked out of his apartment.

[@antunesiaharris32]

Did I hear Ray was offered $800,000 to move out????????

[@crystalc8560]

Did you also hear he was only GIVEN $50,000 smh

[@mdg936]

I can't tell when this story is being told. Is he still there waiting? It sounded like he finally left and then only got $50,000 instead of the promised $800,000. I must have missed something and should rewatch it.

[@H1TMAN9]

Marcus Gerber yep pretty much

[@ericcl5313]

He isn't moving after all cuz he haven't got the remaining cash. The bank will have to foreclose (aka they own it because of debt) on the property and then sell it to new buyers. These buyers will have to pay Ray (or whatever his name is) the remaining sum cuz he's a deal in the pacake, at least i assume the new buyers will have to uphold the court ruling.

[@benjaminday3868]

Its tough to get Puerto ricans out I've seen them ruin landlord's. They think they own the place because they pay rent. Hope the smokes do him in.

[@BxChef.207]

Benjamin Day Poorda Reakins are special type of pest. I thought I didn't have a racist or judgemental bone in my body and then I had to deal with this disgrace to all latinos.

[@incipidsigninsetup]

Byron Thomas proud of new found racism? Congrats.

[@DMVHOODZNDNEWZ]

I feel him. My whole block in DC was taken away. And most the homes wasn’t even section 8

[@freeworld2275]

Yet you help promote it through ignorance look at your channel

[@zacharyfair6738]

Can we all be honest with ourselves.... living in an apartment for 5 decades isn't realistic. Expecting to live in an apartment your entire life isn't realistic. He's getting an amazing deal at $110/month. Working a basic job should give him enough to move, invest, etc. Yes, it is sad, but this is an extreme example of a tenant who doesn't understand his relationship with renting. He wants more laws to protect tenants. Like what, never having to leave???????????

[@PaulOutsidetheWalls]

If you rent, you do not own the building. Despite five decades of living in that apartment, the fact remains that he doesn’t own his apartment but rents it.

[@MrSebastianBlake]

It’s the irony he didn’t understand. He should have bought a flat/house long ago and now he can no longer afford NYC (especially if he thinks he’s gonna another $110)

[@marisolcortes9863]

I grew up in East Harlem. My parents immigrated from Mexico in the mid 80's. In that time, there was a lot of hate towards Mexicans but that did not stop my parents from living in East Harlem. I am the youngest of four siblings. East Harlem has been my parents home and our home and always will be. Watching this video made me sad for Ray. As latinos, we get attached to our home for the memories and convenient when the rent is not high due to the years living in the home. I pass by 109th and 3rd all the time and there is still nothing there. If anything, Ray should've won this case and he probably could've still been living there paying the same amount. I hope Ray is doing well! When Ray mentioned about a bodega on 107th lex, that then became a pizzeria and is now a hipster bar/restaurant, gave me chills. My dad would say the same thing! All the changes you see when walking down the street, is so hard to believe. East Harlem is not the same anymore, especially with gentrification going on. As a belief, the demolition is what making our residents feel more afraid and giving less hope.

[@Lau_465]

Supposedly He passed away in 2022🙏

[@greytoeimp]

800K? He's crazy.

[@timeStat]

Won't last long in NYC

[@islandbee]

They only gave $50k, and will probably won't get the rest ever. That's why he is still there.

[@greytoeimp]

yes, I watched the rest lol. But I woulda taken it right away!

[@islandbee]

Joseph Sedita - I don't think he would've given it to him. What they should've done was guarantee an apartment from the new project.

[@greytoeimp]

islandbee you’re right

[@Swavywilliams]

800,000 and won’t take that , he’s tripping 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@ousmanebarry7909]

Fr I would’ve take n I’m leaving nyc he buggin

[@kirbfx]

I'm sorry but the guy had the privilege of living in a rent controlled apartment at with a rent of only $110 a month which is about 1/10th the typical rent in the area, for decades, then is offered $800,000 to leave an apartment building he does not own and yet he STILL isn't happy?? He doesn't own the place. I couldn't imagine treating my past landlords like that let alone getting offered $800,000 to leave an apartment I rented and still acting like I own the place.

[@Axel-uw5py]

Cry more

[@sunnicivang1093]

Did you watch to the end? He never received no more than $50k; barely a survivable one-year salary. And now he has to go search for a new place to rent at the inflated marketplace value too?

[@kirbfx]

@@sunnicivang1093 so he got $50,000 to leave an apartment that wasn't his after being privelaged to live in a rent controlled apartment for years. Must be nice

[@dandan9175]

$800k to move out? I would take it!!!

[@chrispbacon1167]

Did she say they would like to build something that fits the demand of the neighborhood? Because they don’t plan on the ppl from the neighborhood living there

[@The1ByTheSea]

If these people offer someon $800,000 to move out;you know how much money they plan to get back !!

[@victorbrown4915]

Your a strong man Ray I hope you get what you desire and more these people who come in wanting to gentrify have no clue.

[@NachoTV]

i hope he gets the rest of his money 💰

[@LucasFernandez-fk8se]

Nacho TV I hope he doesn't he literally is wasting everyone's time and money. Think about how incredibly selfish that is especially since they offered him money which they don't have to do because he doesn't own property. They offered him a great deal and he's ruining everything for everyone.

[@1thetvzone]

Lucas Fernandez Your just looking at the $$$ aspect...The man almost 60 yrs old...For him it the memories of that neighborhood that his home...Yeah, ppl will say take the payday that being given but it more than that....He leaves he's leaving his comfort zone and the unknown is what he's scared of....

[@misterdee1117]

Lucas Fernandez the landlord got tons of tax benefits to serve folks like Ray. These buildings kept their occupancy up for years when no one wanted to live there because of this. Landlords can’t just do a 180 because it’s more beneficial now. I say, they should make them pay the inflation adjusted tax savings to the city and pay the tenants for misleading them before they they can sell the building to a developer.

[@neverbackdown1918]

lemmieatit that’s a lot to assume about someone over an 8 minute video. He could have just been poor all his life and grew up valuing family and his culture. I could say that you’re a racist, but is that correct?

[@NebulasOnyx]

@@1thetvzone at the end of the day he doesn’t own it but he’s acting like he does.

[@jaeeph2882]

$110 rent controlled apt for 50 years. But, he's not greedy, right?

[@jclark6737]

this guy should have taken the money when they first offered it. what a tool!

[@GabiN64]

My problem is that transplants will fit 3 people into a studio apartment. This drives up prices all throughout the city not just Manhattan.

[@blazinpyromaniac]

I don't feel bad for this guy at all... they really offered him 800k

[@jacobthompson6265]

She offered him enough money to cover rent or buy a home close by. I’m on the landlord’s side. He is being unreasonable. I’d take 800k any day.

[@IguanaMassacre]

I love how many people in the comments didn't even watch the full video

[@Bumeism]

The guy paid 110/mo subsidized by taxpayers, doesn’t even own and he got 800,000. I’d say that’s fair

[@tkso.philly3879]

Perfect example of gentrification-

[@paulboyle5659]

Poor guy, maybe he thought through his heart more so than his head, who knows, but I hope he is ok today wherever he is..God bless you Ray.

[@sfarmer51]

I’m confused, he rents...it will never be “his” why not invent and own your own place?

[@felichagomez]

This has also happened in Massachusetts.... even 30 miles from Boston rent isn't affordable and everyone is fleeing to New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont... and even in some of those states it's still expensive. We can't afford to live in our hometowns anymore although most people in this area make salaries way above minimum wage. It makes no sense to pay $2000 for a 1 bedroom apartment; you could never buy a home. I understand this man 100%. My partner and I are currently saving to buy land so at least we'l have that since it seems our area in 10 years will not be affordable what so ever. Stay strong out there all.

[@kd1s]

The landlord is lying through her teeth. I'll explain - we live in a building that is 117 years old. Granted it's not in Manhattan but the age of the building has nothing to do with it. So with that in mind, a pox against the landlord.

[@brandybroadus1883]

kd1s true

[@eddierouge2588]

and in europe it's very common to live in buildings that are at least 50 yo and it's not a problem???

[@kd1s]

There is that - however if you have good legal representation you can stop flippers dead in their tracks.

[@cretansuperbos2121]

kd1s I don't think you have a clue how building codes work... Ever worked construction? Doubt it!

[@kd1s]

I've been involved in electrical and networking.

[@gtas321]

He was offered $800,000... Yeah no, no longer feel sorry for the guy. You could literally just buy your own apartment building with that much

[@burnttoaster6313]

Gentrification ruins the atmosphere, the culture, and what makes the city looks different and unique than others! All those buildings that represent those places are gone! The best thing you can do is actually own the property and not rent!

[@Sonturist]

This is why you have to try to own the property you live in.

[@jmartinez9384]

This man's last holding memory of what used to be east harlem is his apartment, which obviously brings him so much joy. These realtors need to stay out of the hood for good.

[@felipeherrera6118]

I dont sympathize with him. The man RENTS , he does not OWN the property. He pays $110 a month. Wanna know why he doesnt wanna move? because he knows he wont ever find $110 a month rental . Should of taken the 800k when the judge tried to give it to you. Now you get 50k for being stubborn . Congratulations you played yourself

[@Cowboybiglift]

You feel conflicted about taking $800k wtf?!

[@newjerseylion4804]

He never got 800k. He knew they were not going to pay it. And he just got kicked out of his apartment.

[@Yurrrr243]

$800,000 to move out…… and he’s refusing crazy

[@skunkycatog]

Living prett much rent free for 50 years... " we need more rights as tenants" lol America in a nut shell

[@Locopueblo]

you gotta be white

[@SoniaLee-c6d]

I have been through this a couple of times with never anyone paying me. It is sad that he refused to move on. It's almost impossible to win these battles. I understand emotional attachments but that place was unsafe, unsanitary and crumbling. Paying $110 is amazing. All of that time I would have built a nest egg getting myself out of there. It really wasn't worth the fight at all. To know that his sink was not working properly I wonder what else was not functioning. I hope he is ok.

[@Shinobi33]

$800k and he was conflicted?

[@augustojoseramonpinochetug5235]

He seems to be forgetting that he does not own the apt. Once his lease is up it’s up, landlord can do what he/she wants. The entitlement is insane

[@thomasthetans]

I understand he didn't want to leave his apartment he knew for years but you have to let go sometimes. Sad to hear they only gave him $50,000 out of the 800k they were supposed to give him. He should have took them to court for that. But 800k is way more than enough for him to find another apartment in that same area. On top of that he was paying $110.00 a month for it and he's a construction worker who most likely makes good money. Seriously dude take what you have because you have way more than enough to stay in your neighborhood unlike most people.

[@FBi_.]

There was a lot of things he could’ve done if we hired the right lawyer set up a contingency contract set the money up in escrow but sadly people like you don’t know about these things

[@wondon2992]

Gentrification has killed nyc city’s soul !

[@barbarasamuel2546]

I would’ve took the check and brought a house

[@aaronsanchezz]

But you're smart

[@jerrodhobbs5467]

His stubbornness caused him to hold on to long, causing the builder to not be able to improve and rent the units. He caused himself not to get paid. No sympathy whatsoever. And that isn't a nice place to grow up, it looked run down and nasty

[@bkhustler]

this was criminal, considering the fact the apartment was "rent regulated" and the owner purposefully destroyed the property. Entered into a court agreement to payoff someone without committing to fully pay. This person is supposed to be a part of a protect class. His court expenses should have been covered also because he needed a good lawyer. Imagine this happening to other specific class or group of people... it would not happen!! This is criminal.

[@JoseTwitterFan]

The now-abandoned building just caught on fire this weekend. Still not redeveloped in the 8 years since.

[@Smashy360]

$800,000 to leave? GTFO!

[@newjerseylion4804]

Never got 800000 dollars

[@kledasd2582]

Only got 50.000

[@menardtexsampson3745]

I moved out of New York City about two years now best thing ever happened to me I keep telling my folks Who live there to get out.before it’s too late but they won’t listen this video content proves it to me that people are so stupid he get $800,000 and didn’t want to move so sad

[@strongsecurity7747]

800 thousand ! What ? You can move down south for 250 thousand .

[@coolbro8102]

TSP SECURITY if I was given $800k I’d just buy a one bedroom apartment in the same neighborhood

[@gbaran7991]

How is the landlord supposed to afford to repair the building when they are only making $110 a month?

[@ephraim8894]

My father grew up in Spanish Harlem off 101st and Lexington. we would come every summer to visit and I started noticing the gentrification back in 1997. Buildings that were abandoned since the 80s going under construction and all these bougie shops popping up. When my grandmother passed in 2001 my father attempted to get on the lease to keep the apt that at the time was $110 per month through rent control. But of course even though the landlord was a long time friend the money meant more. Now on that block the average rent is 3k. Truly the empire state. Sucking all the culture out of these neighborhoods and transforming them in to a corporation.

[@magicworld3242]

I grew up in East Harlem. It was a horrible neighborhood back in the 60's-70's-80's and 90's. It still a drug infested horrible neighborhood. They offering Ray 800K to get out and he won't. He's what we call a greedy fool. He'll eventually end up getting nothing.

[@ephraim8894]

@@magicworld3242Call it what u want. Obviously it's not about the money. Demolishing something with so much history is hard to let go. To me the fools are the ones who sell out.

[@gregmiga1393]

Gentrification, at least what I've seen of it sucks. The hearts of towns are just ripped out.

[@invest_in_dogecoin6398]

Gentrification is a good thing. Also it’s not your home if you rent it. How entitled are these people

[@adanactnomew7085]

It's crazy. I think there should be renter protection but he's paying $110 a month and offered $800,000 and he's calling them greedy lol.

[@JamesMarshall-jv9yl]

You’re disgusting. It’s his home and he doesn’t want to sell out. That’s not greed

[@obrienortega6942]

Puerto Rican-flight has occurred for the last couple of years in Harlem. They all moving down to the south (specifically Florida)

[@kingrawbucks95]

Give the man his money💰

[@jasonmcconnell5412]

So sad dude, I’m sorry.

[@waterygraves1]

I hate to see that happening it’s a shame what’s happening to Spanish Harlem

[@A_massive_wog]

I'm not sympathetic. He doesn't own the apartment and yet he was offered enough that you could use to buy an entire house somewhere else. When the Puerto Ricans moved into East Harlem, I bet that they drastically changed the community which already existed. And now it's happening again.

[@CreeperJustWannaHug]

Huh, who would have thought that rents would be high in an area where one guy is living in an entire building by himself for $110 a month? Rent control drives up rent prices for everyone, because they don't reduce the demand for housing. Poorly thought out regulations designed to make housing more affordable is a primary reason for high housing prices.

[@JW-uy2on]

Nope.

[@zenithproject817]

Should have taken the 800k and bought a a few businesses on the block and stayed.

[@maggiee639]

Zenith project what do you think $800k buys in nyc?!

[@zenithproject817]

Maggie E taco trucka like 20 of them😂

[@Otter-Destruction]

white people do like eating out of trucks

[@jzk2020]

That and they love living out of trailers.

[@SpiralBreeze]

800K doesn't even buy a studio in the city. However there are condos in the Bronx for about 200K. also I'm in the market for a 100 year old building. Why? cause those things last. new construction sucks.