Barney Miller (TV Series)

Homeless (1981)

David Clennon: Howard Weckler

Quotes 

• Howard Weckler : What, with rampant unemployment, the city clamping down on welfare, psychiatric hospitals all of a sudden going nuts over whose crazy enough to get in -- these factors only serve to aggravate our problem and dump even more of these people out on the street

  Capt. Barney Miller : What's that got to do with Mr. Belinkoff and Mr. Pratken, who were simply kicked out of their rooms.

  Howard Weckler : Nothing, they're victims of J-51.

  Capt. Barney Miller : Which is ?

  Howard Weckler : The city's new tax abatement program.

  Capt. Barney Miller : Oh

  Howard Weckler : It's all part of New York's plan to revitalize old neighborhoods. You see, with hefty tax incentives in hand, real-estate developers started to buy up dilapidated properties , seedy hotels, flophouses, et cetera, many with a splendid view of the river, then gut them, refurbish them, and then turn them into contemporary condominiums at 250 grand a pop.

  Capt. Barney Miller : Apparently, the city forgot about all those who are cut loose in the process

  Howard Weckler : Quarter of a million dollars, who can afford that.