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The Rent Is Too Damn Oh Forget It: Jimmy McMillan Quits Politics
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 9, 2015
Modified Dec 9, 2015
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Gothamist
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 9, 2015
Modified Dec 9, 2015
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It's been a few years since we last talked all things too damn high with Jimmy McMillan, the karate expert-slash-Vietnam vet-slash-former porn star who was the gubernatorial belle of the ball back in 2010. Despite his considerable efforts to push his one-and-only platform, The Rent Is Too Damn High, the rent is still too damn high for most New Yorkers. And sadly, the cost of politics is too damn high for Jimmy.
McMillan announced in an email blast today that he was retiring from politics once and for all. “Jimmy McMillan of the Rent is Too Damn High Party / Movement as of December 1, 2015 is walking away from the Party and Movement,” McMillan said in an typo-laden statement. Check out the rest below.
McMillan a disable Vietnam Veteran has been spending his own money a disability pension he receives for injuries he received during combat in Vietnam Was 1966-1967-1968. I am walking away because I have know other choice the people have ignored my warning and my cry for help that the rent crisis was getting worse. The kind of help they cannot get from not one elected official, not the Governor neither the Mayor can give them.
A rent reduction for the people in the cities of Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan and Queens is easy to accomplish but NO one has asked me to help. The people are being totally brainwashed and lied too about Low in Come Housing by NYC Mayor who knew he could do anything to prevent the Homeless from escalating. Rent is too damn high is an international crisis.
There are many questions the people should ask themselves. I which them the best - I’m out.
The statement noted that the Rent Is Too Damn High Party was “for sale, trademark and all," so if you're interested in carrying on the legacy of a man who loved the movie Deep Throat as much as he loved spreading the gospel of cheaper rent, then feel free to contact attorney Vincent Imbesi.
In the years since he his viral moment in the spotlight during the 2010 election cycle, McMillan was the subject of a documentary; a supporter of Occupy Wall Street and frequent singer at Zuccotti Park; an occasional fringe mayoral candidate; a Brooklyn musician; and the subject of a lot of tabloid ink regarding his rent-stabilized apartment.
But mostly, I'll remember him as a kind man who had a difficult, traumatic life, someone who, despite his comical appearances and mannerisms, sincerely wanted to bring more attention to the lack of affordable housing for young people (even if he never quite said it so...simply). During a 2012 interview with McMillan, his sincerity was crystal clear to me. In between a lot of silly ramblings about his Israeli fans, karate tournaments and his newfound fame, Jimmy revealed what he really hoped to accomplish with his media charm offensive: to inspire young people to take a more active role in politics, the kind of role he knew he would never actually have.
"I don't have to be the President of the United States," he said. "Why don't you run, and I'll support you? I need you all to get involved. I want young people to say, "if Jimmy can do it, I can do it." That's magic."
Alas, we'll always have shoe marriage.
Tagged
jimmy mcmillan
Politics
retirement
the rent is too damn high
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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