New York Street Bookseller Keeps Parking Space For 11 Years (VIDEO)

New York City resident Charles Mysak makes his living by selling books on the street out of his car, which he parked on the corner of Columbus Avenue and 68th Street 11 years ago and hasn't moved since. His green 1994 Civic moves only for street sweeper days, an event that resembles a complex ballet (see it in the video). Mysak also has to deal with the parking tickets, for which he currently owes more than $470.

But every day he pays the meter $36 in quarters to hold on to his spot.

He told the New York Post that "In the old days, you could tie your horse to this, and no one would get a ticket. It's an outrage so much time is being dedicated to taking money from taxpayers -- they're acting as predators. We are taxed, bullied and harassed."

Mysak's seems like one of those "only in New York" stories, and rather appropriately, this urban legend material was captured on film as a short documentary by NYU film student Alden Peters.

Watch the film below, and tell us what you think about Charles Mysak's story.

Comments

[Victor Zone]

11:52 AM on 08/23/2011

Can you imagine having the guts to sue government to stop issuing permits for development project in the flood zone? 4 years hard work fighting govt. and winning the lawsuit, only to be slapped by two govt audits. The audits broke the camels back. What does that tell you. There is a saying no good deed goes unpunished. Selling books on this particular street corner is not as easy as it looks, he puts in 5 hours every morning and every night to shuffle books in and out of his car, brace the elements, and find ways to eat drink, and go to the bathroom, but it surely takes a lot of stress out of his life vs a law practice. I wish him well.

[bluerednot]

11:18 AM on 08/23/2011

New York City resident ?? why does this article start with this line? The video makes it very clear that he is, and has been, a resident of Wayne, NJ. He parks a 1994 Honda on the street in New York and commutes to it everyday from New Jersey.

[pepper1311]

11:10 AM on 08/23/2011

He on the juice.

[Nic the wonder puppy]

10:46 AM on 08/23/2011

I love books, I eat everyone I can get

[Huzie]

10:23 AM on 08/23/2011

I thought this was the latest episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Talk about a doppelganger! Larry get this guy on your show.

[GG357]

10:12 AM on 08/23/2011

Yankee Ingenuity at it's finest!

[Matt Mackinnon]

09:59 AM on 08/23/2011

Somewhere George Costanza is very proud

[John Chip Wynne]

09:54 AM on 08/23/2011

Does this guy remind anybody else of Larry David?

[pepper1311]

11:09 AM on 08/23/2011

It is.

[WDavid]

09:33 AM on 08/23/2011

I was hoping to see the 'dance' of the street sweeper and the car. Good film about a real character. Very compelling story about a how power corrupts.

[american-dolt]

09:28 AM on 08/23/2011

How much you wanna bet he didn't get it today after someone read this post?

[D Right One]

09:12 AM on 08/23/2011

Obviously, it works for him to do what he does and besides it must pay his bills or he wouldn't go through the trouble.

[GreenCanadian]

09:03 AM on 08/23/2011

The parking fees are too D*mn High!!!!

[yoozum]

08:54 AM on 08/23/2011

I love how not only does this story sound like an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but the guy also looks like Larry David's twin.

[ohsaydidyousee]

09:33 AM on 08/23/2011

thoughts exactly.

[jayded]

08:38 AM on 08/23/2011

This guy has to be Larry David's kin............

[combot1]

08:36 AM on 08/23/2011

After featuring this on HuffPo he'll probably be permanently removed by the city tomorrow.