This story has been reported widely, but I can't get it out of my head after seeing it on the news last night. Ninety-four-year-old Dominick Diomede moved into his friend Charlie's Carroll Gardens building twenty years ago, after Dominick's wife died. Dom and the landlord had a handshake agreement and he paid $500 a month for his apartment. Dominick also helped out around the building, doing electrical work and little repairs like that. Charlie eventually died and the building was inherited by his grandchildren. The grandchildren, wise to the market, have decided to evict this frail old guy so they can jack up the rent.
The story has been on my mind because I live in a neighborhood where evictions are commonplace and the wealthy are invading like a swarm of well-coiffed fire ants. New York City is nothing but a mall for rich people these days. I've almost accepted it and can usually get through my day without getting too worked up about things. But watching this poor old guy sob to the peppy News 4 reporter just about broke my heart.
I've lived in this city for almost 20 years now, but I guess I still having a bit of a Jersey Pollyanna about me—who could do such a thing? How could you put an old man out into the streets like that? Just for a few extra bucks? Ack.
When I hear stories like this, it gets me so disgusted I *want* the Red Chinese to invade, so people like the grandchildren in this story can get taught about suffering at the end of a bayonet.
But unfortunately, these grandkids will probably have enough $$$ to bribe the guards, and it'll be Dategirl, the Big Greek and I digging ditches for Chairman Mao's ghost...
Posted by: the rich are different from you and I: they have ice water in their veins | January 17, 2007 at 01:06 PM
the pigs.
Posted by: michelle goodman | January 17, 2007 at 01:26 PM
this broke my heart too. has no one stepped forward to offer him a new home?
i wish i could say that no self-respecting new yorker would rent his old apartment, but we all know that's not true.
Posted by: kate | January 17, 2007 at 02:20 PM
Handshake agreement? Oh, how quaint. This old coot doesn't seem to understand that I've hot a high speed internet bill to pay, alimony, child support, a house in the Hamptons I've got to have remo'd, and Apple just came out with a really ragin' iPhone that I just gotta have.
Without Dignity,
Landlord-Boy
If Bush can kill a few hundred thousand folks and be secure in his job and sleep at night, who's going to miss this fossil?
Posted by: osisbs | January 17, 2007 at 04:37 PM