The "ParkingPirate" Is A Greedy Dude, But I Respect His Hustle
NY Post- Battery Park City motorists would like this road hog to walk the plank.
But John McIntosh — aka the “Parking Pirate” — says he’s just trying to make some booty.
The 41-year-old homeless man has been living out of his junk-stuffed jalopy on spot-scarce Warren Street for over a decade, making ends meet by moving his car — for a price.
McIntosh says he pockets up to $100 a day hoarding his parking spot — and even takes payment by Venmo, under the name “Parkingpirate,” of course.
“I’ve been doing this probably at least 13 years,” McIntosh charmingly confessed to The Post. “It’s kind of a bad thing to let out of the bag. The police know about it and some people complain. I’m just a tiny, little bug in the grand scheme.”
I want to hate everything about this guy, I really do. I am so against people "saving" spots by putting a cone in them, or a chair during a snowstorm and expecting people to respect it all day. Everyone shoveled out, everyone did the work you don't own the spot, that's bullshit. Same with neighbors who think the spot in front of their house is only for them when you have a hydrant in front of yours, where the fuck do they expect you to park? So everything in my makeup wants me to hate this guy, but deep down I love it.
This city bangs people for parking tickets and speed cameras 24/7. They give us no breaks. If this guy can skate the system with a little side action of moving for the right price ... so be it. Now don't get me wrong it's totally illegal, but side deals happen all over the place. You're telling me no one ever paid to skip a line? Or paid someone to hold a spot in line? Same goes here. This guy isn't acting like he owns the parking spot, he's just letting people know he can move for the right price. I respect it... get the money while you can pal.