What's the beef tiwh the Rent is Too @#%& high guy?
By RobtheRock
@RobtheRock (2433)
United States
October 23, 2010 9:25am CST
I've just read a blog, article, or whatever it could possibly be called, about Jimmy McMillian, the Rent Is Too #$%# High candidate for governor in New York. Some landlords allow apartment managers and maintenance people to stay in their apartments free of rent in exchange for their services. Instead of paying the managers and maintenance people and then getting the money back in rent payments, the money is already received by the landlord. But somehow, Mr. McMillian is attacked for being a hypocrite.
So those on the left and right, what is your take on this? Why do you think a blogger would say that Jimmy "doesn't pay rent" and "he's a hypocrite" when the blogger says that Jimmy works as a "maintenance man" for the landlord? His not "directly" paying rent but having it taken out of his paycheck does not mean he's not paying rent. So where's the reasoning behind attacking him for saying that the rent is indeed too high? And I've worked as a maintenance man in one capacity or another and it is indeed work, so that shouldn't be an excuse to say he's not working.
3 people like this
6 responses
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
23 Oct 10
Sounds like a pretty stupid reason to attack someone. Being a maintenance man is no easy job. You have to deal with the worst problems and everyone expects things to be fixed instantly. His arrangement is quite common and perfectly acceptable. Some people will just grasp at straws to attack their opponents.
2 people like this
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
24 Oct 10
Yes Taskr36 I agree. I've seen my share of problems caused (accidentally or purposely) by tenants. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
23 Oct 10
In some states this is allowed and is a tax savings to the landlord. He does not claim the income from the apartment rent but get to deduct the cost of the rent as an expense. Also the landlord does not have to pay the SS and related government taxes on this manager.
Is Jimmy being hypocrite because he claims the rent is too d---m high. No more than the politician who claims to want to cut government spending and then promises to bring home more money for his voters. As a manager or maintenance person he is in a very good position to hear the complaints of the people in the building.
2 people like this
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
24 Oct 10
Thank you Bobmnu. I didn't know about the savings to the landlord. It looks like a great deal for manager/maintenance and landlord. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
24 Oct 10
Hi RobtheRock,
I would imagine this could vary depending on each situation. I've done work in the past for landlords and had it deducted from my rent. I would imagine that my viewpoint on this would vary depending on the amount of actual work the maintenance guy actually had to do around the place. I have lived in places where the maintenance guy does very little....maybe works a weeks worth all month. If he is actually doing a fair amount of work to the upkeep of the place then it is a great deal for both the landlord and the tenent.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
25 Oct 10
You make a great point. And you are right....doesn't make him a bad guy at all. Who wouldn't pounce on such an opportunity. I wouldn't just assume that he is a lazy bum regardless of the situation anyway. I wouldn't just assume that about anybody that I didn't personally know. Oh and I agree with you that houseworkers should get a lot more than what they get. Have a great night, Rob. 
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
23 Oct 10
The story about the maintenance job and free rent is apparently just one of many stories he's told about his rent situation. In another statement he said he paid $900 per month on a rent-controlled apartment that his unemployed son lives in, but he doesn't live there.
In an interview with the NY Times, McMillan said:
"Don’t look for anything I say about my living space to be true".
I don't think it matters anyway, because he doesn't really expect to be elected and he's obviously just having a bit of fun.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/nyregion/20rent.html?ref=todayspaper
1 person likes this
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
24 Oct 10
Thanks for the link Rollo1. That article makes it more clear. The blog I read just said that "McMillian" (the blogger's spelling) "doesn't pay rent" and headlined it as him being a "hypocrite" while saying that the candidate "doesn't pay any rent himself" and "works off" the rent by "doing maintenance work." Not knocking blogging as a whole, but in this case one can see the difference between a trained journalist and a non professional who blogs. The article you showed me makes more sense. I admit that it is much needed humor in this negative political atmosphere although the rent in many places in these times is indeed too $%#& high. Thanks for your comments and supporting info.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
23 Oct 10
well that blogger is just wrong. and you are right. its a good job to have and yes it is a job. my second hubby and i used to do that. he was maintenance and i was the apartment cleaner and we both rented the apartments out and kept the books. so it was pretty much a full time job for us both
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
24 Oct 10
I don't envy you Bunnybon7. You have to keep the books and dare not make a mistake. And it is lots of work. On the blog I saw, the blogger even had some supporters. Somehow I think they missed the second or third sentence pointing out that he is a maintenance man for the apartment. Thanks for responding.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Oct 10
There are a lot of occasions in which a person managing/caring for an apartment complex lives there free as compensation for their services. Sometimes they are even paid a little extra. If rent was $800 a month..then his 24 7 year arounf services would be worth more than that I would think. I don't know about the blog..I have never read it.
1 person likes this
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
24 Oct 10
Jen, That reminds me of when I worked as a custodian and stayed in the Bayside Apartments of Cedar Point Amusement Park. There were a couple of times when the Head of my department came to my apartment to get my help. And I was also called several times to aid someone. These times were well past my scheduled work time. Although I wasn't contracted to do it, I helped since my rent was practically nothing at the time. Thanks for responding.
