Summary of The Man Who Stole an Entire Hotel
In the video titled "The Man Who Stole an Entire Hotel," the narrator explores the bizarre story of Mickey Barreto, who managed to exploit a legal loophole to claim ownership of the New Yorker Hotel in New York City. The New Yorker Hotel, an iconic establishment with a rich history, opened in 1930 and features notable events such as Hillary Clinton conceding the 2016 election in its ballroom and Nikola Tesla's death in room 3327.
The plot unfolds as Barreto checks into the hotel in 2018 for a one-night stay and learns about a little-known provision in New York’s rent stabilization law, which allows guests in certain hotels to request a six-month lease at a discounted rate. After requesting the lease and being denied, Barreto claims illegal eviction, leading to a court ruling in his favor, which grants him "possession" of his room. He cleverly interprets this possession as ownership and attempts to register the hotel deed in his name, ultimately succeeding after several attempts.
The humor in the video comes from the absurdity of the situation, including Barreto's misguided attempts to take control of the hotel, such as trying to redirect rent checks from the diner to his room. The narrative also touches on the hotel's actual ownership by the Unification Church, which has ties to North Korea, adding another layer of intrigue. The story takes a darker turn as Barreto faces legal repercussions for his actions, including potential prison time for felony fraud.
The video is peppered with light-hearted commentary and jokes, such as the narrator's quip about Amy, the correspondent sent to "steal" the hotel, who ends up at Taco Bell instead. It concludes with a humorous comparison of the Taco Bell Cantina experience to navigating the media landscape, alongside a promotional segment for a news bias transparency tool.
Personalities Appearing in the Video:
- Mickey Barreto
- Amy (the outside correspondent)
- Narrator (host of the video)
Notable Quotes
— 04:15 — « But like Icarus in the sky or me at a buffet, he went after more and more until he basically destroyed himself. »
— 06:32 — « A meal at the Taco Bell Cantina is a lot like the news media landscape: it’s hard to tell where everything’s coming from, and it might leave you confused and a little nauseous. »
Category
Entertainment