By Laszlo K. Makay Santa Monica
Regarding Ed Silverstein’s column (SMDP, Aug. 10, page 4). I am a 76-year-old senior citizen and a former refugee of 1956. Please allow me to reply to your column “President’s so-called plan will put seniors in squalor.” First of all, I thank you for thinking of seniors’ grinding problems. Also, I appreciate it.
In October 23, 1956, a spontaneous uprising against the occupying Soviet Tyranny broke out in Hungary. Eleven days later the huge Soviet Red Army crushed down the freedom fight. Then the merciless retaliations started. I was told I must flee because in 1947, I was a prisoner of the Soviet KGB. I spent three months in their dungeon. I underwent untold tortures. Where were the International Red Cross, the human rights?
The Newsweek magazine’s reporter never visited the prisoners of the KGB. The communists put me to a forced labor camp in 1951-1953. I was young and hated the Soviets. I volunteered to help the United States Air Force’s Intelligence, in 1954- 1956. I was a secret freedom fighter. I risked my life for two years. I hesitated to leave Hungary, because due to medical malpractice, I lost 90 percent of hearing ability. On Nov. 23, 1956, I successfully escaped to Austria. On Jan. 30, 1957, I arrived at Newark, NJ. Then I was 27 years old. I started to learn English. Of course, it was extremely difficult as a deaf man. I have been here for over 48 years. In 1957, I was very happy. I “restarted” my life. I immediately got a job at Citizens National Bank — now it is Wells Fargo Bank. I worked here for over 10 years, then I lost the job because of reduction in staff due to merging.
Now I am here in Mercury Media for nine years and I am unable to retire. In 1957, on 1330 Fifth St., the rent was $40 and the utilities included. My life went smoothly until 1974, when the rent gouging started. The landlords became extremely greedy. Then the Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights and the Rent Control were established. Unfortunately, now the Rent Control is very weak. In 2000, I was evicted from my rent-controlled two-bedroom apartment, where I and my family lived for 14 years.
The young landlord, who every Sunday goes to the same church where I used to go for 39 years, in the court, lied under oath. The pastor of St. Monica Church refused to hear me and help. They never returned my wife’s calls, never answered to my letters. Then I walked in the Pastoral Center and tried to see any priest. None of them were “available.” Only a civilian employee showed up, and he was very rude. This is a rude elder abuse. I am totally defenseless. Since 1999, I am on the waiting list for an affordable apartment. Now I am living in a dark one-bedroom apartment. The rent is $1,139. Me and my wife are so desperate.
I fled from my native country because of the communist terror. Now we try to flee because of landlords’ financial terror. I am thinking of going to Costa Rica, Mexico, Arizona or where? Who can help me? In 1957, I saw the retirees could survive. Then, I never thought, when I become old, I will find such grinding problems. I lost $7,000 on my 401(k) retirement account because of the stock market. Now I am worried about the Social Security. Stock market is very risky. What could be the best solution? Suicide? I have a strange feelings, because I saw my father’s philanthropic activities. My father had seven apartment buildings in Hungary. My father never evicted anyone.
I remember that one family man could not pay the rent for six months. My father ordered the manager of that building to not bother him. My mother bought shoes for his children. The six months rent was forgiven. Such good-will is unheard of in Santa Monica.
When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, the Nazi blitzkrieg crushed down the Polish defense. My father helped the Polish refugees. He offered three Polish colonels, with their families, three rent-free apartments which were vacated by Austrian diplomats, who fled to Canada in 1938, when Hitler annexed Austria. In March 1944, when the Nazis invaded Hungary, my father successfully hid, fed and saved seven Jewish families in our remote hideaway cabin. In 1945, the Communists confiscated all of our possessions. Now I am here, as a pariah and fearing of being homeless some day.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 17, 2005. Read the original PDF.