NEW YORK,NY – Local Lower East Side homeless man, Arthur Kropff, better known as “Charlie” by the residents in the neighborhood, is picketing outside the 2nd Ave Train station on the F line. He is boycotting the MTA because he feels that the living conditions in the subway are inhumane. “Some nights I can’t even sleep ’cause the rats are gnawing at my face. No one should live like this,” says Arthur.

This issue has riled up the Lower East side residents. LES resident Anabel Sanchez says, “I can’t believe the MTA can treat human beings like this. I know exactly how Charlie feels, I can barely get my landlord to turn my damn heat on.”

We contacted the MTA offices, but were given no comment regarding the matter. MTA employee James Moore, who works at the 2nd ave train station, commented, “This guy is getting very annoying. My job is pretty quiet. I don’t have to do much. Just sit here and catch up on my seasons of The Wire while the Metrocard machine replaces me. But instead I got this homeless dude complaining and gettin’ news folk down here asking me questions.”

Arthur has a gripe with the MTA, saying “They should treat their tenants with respect and decency.” Kropff has threatened to cross the river in to New Jersey and move in to a NJ Transit subway station, but he hopes things can be resolved soon so that he does not have to, “be super homeless due to living in that state.”

- Christian Polanco

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