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WORLD> America
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'Bailout Bill' hands out free money in NY
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-09 08:58
It was a bailout for the rest of us. Hundreds of down-on-their-luck New Yorkers spent hours in line near Times Square this week, hoping for a generous handout from a stranger. While the gesture was a publicity stunt for Bailoutbooth.com, a new video classifieds site, the recipients didn't care - and were happy to trade their tales of woe for cash. "I only make $180 a week. With two kids, it's tough," said Pedro Aponte, 42, of East New York, a technician whose hours recently got slashed. "I told my wife, I'm gonna go to this thing to get money for food and gas." Aponte got $50 and promptly spent $49.71 on paper towels, fresh produce, chicken and other food, including two popsicles for his sons, Jonathan, 2, and Javon, 8. Like almost 800 other people on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aponte lined up early in the morning and waited patiently to speak to a guy in a booth called "Bailout Bill." After hearing heart-wrenching stories about layoffs, illnesses and general bad luck, Bill decided how much they deserved. While most folks got $50 or $100, a lucky few took home up to $3,000 for a total of $50,000 each day. Rosario Cisleros, 48, of Jamaica, Queens, wept as Bill handed her $100. The single mom of two kids, 14 and 17, said she would use the cash to do laundry. "My bills are just too high," she said. "I don't know what to do." |
