LLC shell companies as deep as the eye can see, warehousing/deregulation of rent-stabilized apartments, mass homelessness, deed fraud and the epicenter of a global pandemic to top it all off. NYC becomes more and more unlivable every year, and the 2020s have us firmly living in a hellish future that we did not consent to. But despite it all, we’re still squatting! A group of present-day queer squatters will facilitate a group conversation about squatting in the hyper- gentrified city. We’ll look at historic conditions for squatting in NYC and the way that the terrain has changed since the glory days, demanding our creativity and adaptation. We’ll talk about squatting not just to meet our own housing needs, but as a means of fighting back against luxury developer vampires.

We’ll share tips for identifying and researching empty properties, and reflect on what we’ve learned through recent squat defense struggles.

Newcomers and old heads welcome! There will be free zines too.