One Man Cabin: Hobo builds a 16-foot makeshift log home on the Manhattan Bridge bike path using plywood, cardboard, a bike lock, and a bucket for the toilet
- Chinese-American senior “Joey”, thought to be in his 50s or 60s, built a temporary home
- Front door locks with bicycle locks; The homeowner lacks plumbers, uses a bucket instead
- It was reported that Mao Zedong and his friends who had been killed were spoken of when he was approached
- Workers painted over graffiti of Shack over the weekend but left the man alone
An unknown Chinese-born squatter has built his own corner of New York real estate on the Manhattan Bridge.
The man in his 50s or 60s, rumored to be “Joey,” built the tiny house out of plywood and cardboard.
His 16-square-foot home on Bike Thoroughfare has no running water or plumbing, and “Joey” is forced to use a bucket instead.
Security is also lacking as there is a bike lock to lock the rickety front door.
When approached, he is said to have ranted about Mao Zedong and the fact that some of his friends were being executed in communist China New York Post reported.
The news comes as New York City is believed to have the highest homelessness rate since the Great Depression.
According to activists Coalition for the Homelessnearly 50,000 New Yorkers were in the city’s urban protection system in March.
Among them are 15,087 homeless children.
The Chinese-born bridge squatter is said to be called Joey and is reportedly in his 50s or 60s
“Joey” railed against Mao Zedong when confronted with a New York Post reporter last week
The miniature plywood and cardboard house pictured over the weekend is covered in graffiti
At a clean-up by city workers Saturday, which included spraying graffiti nearby, “Joey” was not confronted about his presence on New York’s Key Bridge.
Community activist Susan Lee, 44, told the newspaper that Joey’s completely unregulated presence on the bridge could lead to a horrific accident.
She said: “Such a structure is unregulated, it is put together on a whim and it is dangerous.
“Someone could very well attach the bike lock to this structure while the person is inside and set it on fire.
“I hope he gets the help he needs.”
Activist Susan Lee said Joey’s uncontrolled presence next to the bike path puts him in danger
The homeowner has a chair and cushion, but no running water or accessible dining facilities
The makeshift miniature house is next to a busy bike lane, leaving Joey prone to accidents
The Manhattan Bridge (pictured August 2017) is one of New York City’s busiest thoroughfares
But the spokesman for a progressive city council said “Joey” should be left alone.
As early as 2014, the mentally ill “Joey” could be seen on the Manhattan Bridge
Speaking for council member Christopher Marte, Caitlin Kelmar told The Post: “We will not comment on this story and do not wish to cause any more trouble in this man’s life.
“I know he’s been there for over a year, but no one from our office has seen the building since last winter.
“From our conversations with him, he seems to have some mental health issues.
“The Department of Health has demolished the structure on a number of occasions and I know he was contacted by either DHS or a local nonprofit because we witnessed it.”
Recent polls vastly underestimate the number of homeless people in the city, the Coalition for the Homeless warned, because only those in formal shelters can be counted.
It added that the vast majority of homeless New Yorkers suffer from at least one mental illness or serious medical condition.
