Out On Their Butts (UPDATED)

This is how “compassionate” liberals can be when you don’t toe their mark. From Ted Hayes:

I am the founder and director of a unique, progressive homeless facility in downtown Los Angeles, known as the Dome Village. Yet the 35 men, women and children and their pets who call the Dome Village home are being "evicted" from privately owned property after 12 1/2 years--apparently on account of my political beliefs and activities. You see, though I am a leading homeless activist, I am also a conservative Republican and a strong supporter of President Bush.

Here's how the situation played out. Recently, I was invited to address a local Republican Women's Club; my landlord read an article in the local paper reporting on the event. Soon after, I received a notice raising the Dome Village rent from $2,500 a month to $18,330. Shocked, I inquired as to the seriousness of the change, and the property owner blurted out that the cause of our "eviction" was "because you are Republican." He said that as a Democrat, he was tired of helping me and the Dome Village. In other words, let the homeless be damned.

Ted Hayes has a well-deserved reputation in Los Angeles as one of the city’s most effective homeless activists; indeed, he has lessened pejorative nature of the word ‘activist.’ I first learned of his work nearly a decade ago via LA’s version of über-leftist Pacifica Radio, KPFK. Back then, of course, it was okay for him to help the downtrodden; as long as it was assumed that he subscribed to the “correct” ideology—as long as he was presumably a Man of the Left. However, since his political leanings have become—shall we say—unclean, it’s now become okay to charge he and his domicile mates out of their homes.

It is time for American blacks to have a conversation about the phenomenon of Democrats persecuting black Republicans. Why is this happening? What is it that the Democrats don't want black folks to understand about Republicans? What is it that the Democrats don't want black folks to know about Democrats? And how is it that we have come to this point--after having endured so much--where we have ourselves curtailed the freedom of political expression through the threat of retaliatory consequences?

Some black commentators have chastised black conservative Republicans for using racist terminology when noting the conversion of some black Democrats to the Republican Party: being a ‘freed-slave’ and ‘leaving the plantation.’ In the past, I have agreed that the phrasing was racist, but here, it is quite apt.

Back in the day, some of the smarter slaves had to hide the fact that they could read and write, lest they be killed. The “masters” who have lost control of the minds of their "slaves" now must operate all legal-like and will simply do things like price them out into the street.

Thank God, however, for this being the 21st Century; even if some mindsets haven't change, societal circumstances have.

It should be fascinating to see how this story plays out. Perhaps it will push Dome Village’s founder even more to the Right; perhaps he and his fellows will decide to find the means to own their domicile--like a free men and women.

(Thanks to Jeff Goldstein)

UPDATE: Darkstar notes--and I have seen it elsewhere today--that Mr. Hayes' political leanings have been public for some time. In the comments to this post, Darkstar asks:

[W]hy now would the land lord toss him out for the stated reason that Hayes gives?

I don't know, but can only take a guess: the landlord figures, since Mr. Hayes has publicly appealed to his fellow Republicans, that they should now take the reins in helping him. Fair enough, if true. However, if that is true, one wonders why the landlord was helping Mr. Hayes and the other residents of Dome Village in the first place. Certainly it wasn't because the landlord believed in what he was doing.

I think that this will, ultimately, be good for Mr. Hayes and his efforts: accept help, yes, but help yourself first and foremost--don't let others hold your fate in their hands.

UPDATE: Click on Ted Hayes' interview with FoxNews' Hannity and Colmes.

UPDATE: Interesting additional info in the post and the comments at Misha's place (language alert).

Also read Evan Coyne Maloney's commentary. He was on this subject before Christmas.

Comments

[DarkStar]

Here's a question for you. It's sincere (and why even the need to state it is interesting).

His leanings have been known for some time. So, why now would the land lord toss him out for the stated reason that Hayes gives?

[dick]

When you state that his views have been known for some time, the part you missed is that his views were not necessarily known to his landlord for some time. Just because something may be common knowledge does not mean that everybody knows it.

Do you know for a fact that the actual reason is not the one that Hayes gives? Do you even know who Hayes is? Unless you can answer both of those questions, then your comment means absolutely nothing.

[baldilocks]

dick,

I'm pretty sure that Darkstar knows who Mr. Hayes is.

All,

See my update.

[mt]

So, why now would the land lord toss him out for the stated reason that Hayes gives?

One possible explanation could be that while the land lord knew, he never really thought about it. May have even forgotten. Hayes' speech could have reminded him of the fact, and something that didn't bother him before suddenly does with all that is going on.

Just an idea as I know I don't keep everyone's political leanings in the front of my thoughts.

[Mescalero]

I to am a landlord, and I hate rent gaugers. I also know that a >100% rent increase looks suspicious. When that outrageous rent increase is politically motivated, lawyers salivate!

Let's get the name of the landlord. Believe me, we know how we can make him live in Hell for a long time!

[Misha I]

That would be Milton Sidley, Mescalero, the same guy that felled 18 of his neighbor's eucalyptus trees while he was away on business because they obstructed his ocean view.

As to making his life living Hell I wouldn't get my hopes up. In the above case, the judge miraculously reduced the case from being a felony case to a misdemeanor.

Obviously the Shitleys and the Miras play in the same country club.

[teal marie]

Mescalero,
Mr.Hayes specifically stated he doesn't want to sue the landlord.

Baldi, if you succeeed in luring actus uppus over here, won't our home trolls be chartreuse with envy? Wonder, can we exchange captives? ;-)

[DarkStar]

When you state that his views have been known for some time, the part you missed is that his views were not necessarily known to his landlord for some time. Just because something may be common knowledge does not mean that everybody knows it.

Good point except that Hayes has been in the media before, so a recent appearance wouldn't seem to be anything different from previous appearances.

Do you know for a fact that the actual reason is not the one that Hayes gives?

No, do you know that it IS?
One word against another.

I grow skeptical in my middle age.

Baldi, your comment is something to think about for a bit. The amount of the raise in rent sounds odd. I'd like to know the rent / sq. ft. of the others. Maybe Hayes was getting a big discount and now with the reported "gentrification" of the area, he wants the cash.

Or, it's done for political reasons.

[mlah]

he should be helped to reach independance. his homeless dome should be under his control with a mortgage, not beholden to a landlord.

people on the dole have been economic slaves for far too long. it is really nice to see some fo them waking up. or at least i hope some of the people mr hayes is helping are beginning to see the light.

[Arnold]

$2500/mo for any kind of space in downtown LA sounds very low. It would be very low here in Houston, and I understand real estate is more expensive on the west coast. :)

I wonder if it's been $2500/mo fo rthe entire 12 1/2 years it's been there?

Maybe the landlord got an offer from someone else who wanted the space, but during a heated phone conversation he made a nasty comment about doing it because he was a Republican.

It's interesting, but I know a lot of people on the left who would view kicking him out because he's a Republican to be a nobler motive that doing it for money. I think most of us on the right would take the opposite view.

[Mrs. du Toit]

Forgive me for the shorthand of asking, but how can we help this man?

I think it inappropriate to drag the landlord into court (as I view his property rights paramount). I may not like him for doing it, but I'm not going to suggest that he MUST continue to subsidize a group he does not wish to support. Two wrongs and all that.

So, how can we get this man and the rest of the residents in a new situation? Did you read anything that would give you a clue how we could help in the regard?

[Arnold]

Mrs. du Toit:

I would go to the DOme Village website http://www.domevillage.org/ to start. They have a donation link, and a "How to Reach Us" page.

Apparently Dome Village donated a lot of money for Katrina relief, so I may have to see what I can scrape up to return the favor.

[C Wmson]

This is an unfortunate incident indeed. A possible solution to the problem: Wagontire, OR has a cafe/motel/RV park for sale. It is the only establishment in the town. Why don't these "Dome folks" buy it, organize a nice little community, and they can be whatever political party they want?
They can tell LA to go pound sand.

[Brian the sailor]

Thanks, Baldilocks for your link to Ted Hayes' website. I sent him a quick e-mail which I'm not going to cut-n-paste here. Comments should be brief.
Basically, I just wanted to let him know he's not imagining anything. Apparently, it's acceptable to be crude and cruel to minority conservatives. But, you probably know that already.
Keep up the good work!

[Mescalero]

teale marie--

Do you really think that rich liberal turds will be receptive to a passive response. I don't know about you, but I can assure you that a fist in the teeth is far more effective than turning the other cheek for further punishment by Stalino-Fascists!

I have been a landlord for over 25 years. I appreciate tenant loyalty, and appreciate tenant friendship and comraderie. Let's face the facts, the liberals don't give a flying crap about any of that kind of stuff! All they want to do is pay homage to that ultimate liberal scumbag George Soros and all the evil he stands for!

[phlegmfatale]

This seems to me part and parcel of the liberal left's modus operandi as long as I have been politically cognizant. I've never seen people so wickedly gleeful at the misfortune of others as today's liberal democrats. The fact that they would only want to help someone to advance their political agenda proves how removed from altruism their motives are.

[The Liberal Avenger]

An unfortunate and cruel hoax, but a hoax nevertheless.

[skinner]

Im shocked you mean the liberal mindset that gave candybars and happymeals to 18 year old kids ,that they commandeered from
an mentally challenged home . so they could teach them how to register democrat in Florida and vote for Gore who would lose anyways and then cry FOWL while claiming voter fraud etc and take it all the way to the supreme court but end up losing anyway after putting the country on hold for a month and WHINING ENDLESSLY
but later pretending to be gracious losers but still claiming the election was stolen by BUSH and his people...........
WOULD STOOP TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I"M SHOCKED

[Salminio]

NO PROBLEM. Just get some Republicans to pay the rent. Ya see how easy that was?!

[skinner]

Salmonella EXPLAIN PLEASE????

[skinner]

why didnt the landlord Just fire Ted Hayes and force all the tennants into registering as democrats and then take the credit for Hayes' good works
Im sure this follows in line
with Salmonellas choo choo train of thought

[Mike Z]

Another blogger was at the event and took notes. He wrote that Hayes said, "I was born black and therefore a Democrat". That amazed me. The Democrats, who fought integration and civil rights from the 1860s right up until 1954 and "Brown v Board of Education".

It makes as much sense as many blacks embracing Islam. It was the Arabs who were the first link in the slave trade of the 16th and 17th centuries.

[Netpowersoft]

This is looking really nice stuff..
Well you win my heart..

i am lovin this blog…
This is a cool stuff
:)
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