The Philosophy of Squatting

NEW YORK — One recent rainy day, Michael Shenker, 40, a squatter for 12 years, was comfortable and dry in his three-room apartment on East 7th Street. He explained the philosophy of squatting.

When Shenker, a musician, moved in a few years ago, there were no stairs, walls or a roof. Now there is running water, electricity and plumbing. Those living in the building did all the work and paid for it, he said. At the same time, they pay no rent.

There are 35 tenants in the six-story walk-up. Each apartment contributes $75 a month to buy materials for reconstruction; everyone is required to help renovate the building. They pay their phone and electrical bills. The city has continued to pick up garbage outside their building and does not cut off the water.

“We do this on our own, not with taxpayers’ money,” Shenker said. “Society says pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, and then they cut our bootstraps and say, ‘This is a city-owned building, you can’t go in there.’ ”