'The really crazy ones are the people paying Manhattan rent!' The hoarder, 64, lives out of two trucks parked in the West Village after being kicked out of his apartment
- Jimmy Tarangelo has been living in vans in the West Village for 15 years
- He used to live in a nearby apartment but was evicted for a 'clutter problem'
- Had to buy a second van after his collection of possessions got too big
- Despite his odd life he insists the crazy ones are his rent-paying neighbors
A 64-year-old man who lives out of two trash-filled trucks in New York's West Village insists he's not crazy compared to neighboring residents who pay sky-high rents.Jimmy Tarangelo has lived at the corner of West Houston and Greenwich, in one of Manhattan's most expensive and sought-after neighborhoods, for the last 15 years.Working odd-jobs in order to support himself, Tarangelo began with just one van but had to add a second after his collection of possessions grew too large.
Jimmy Tarangelo (right, pictured with friend Eugene Gilhooley) has been living rent-free inside two RVs in one of Manhattan's most expensive neighborhoods for the last 15 years
Tarangelo initially lived inside just one van, but when his collection of possessions - which includes scooters, microwaves and detergent bottles - got too big he bought himself a second one 
Before ending up inside the vans, Tarangelo used to rent an apartment on a street just a few blocks away, but was kicked out for what he calls a 'clutter problem'That haul includes scooters, tripods, microwaves, boards, fans, lamps, chairs, bags, detergent bottles, stuffed animals, cans, an umbrella and a metal building lantern, the New York Post reports.But despite his unorthodox lifestyle, Tarangelo insists his actions are not as mad as they seem.reHe said: 'I’m not the cuckoo one living in the truck. They’re cuckoo for paying to live there.'Many who work in the area have grown fond of Tarangelo, saying he is now a fixture of the neighborhood and they often look out for him on their morning commute.However, those who live in apartments nearby are not so keen on their neighborhood companion.
Tarangelo, who was once a building superintendent, now takes care of himself by doing odd jobs including 'minor car repairs, handyman work, a little locksmithing'
Tarangelo ran into trouble with the ASPCA two years ago when they put one of his dogs down without informing him. He now has just one animal companion left, border collie cross Pickles (pictured)
Despite his seemingly odd lifestyle choices, Tarangelo insists he isn't the crazy one and it would be madder to pay the sky-high rents in the West VillageJake Farrell, 70, a retired accountant, said: 'We all have rights, but he’s visiting himself on a neighborhood we spend thousands and millions of dollars to live in. Nobody really likes him.'Tarangelo once lived in an apartment just a few blocks from where he now resides, according to New York Mag, but was evicted for what he referred to as a 'clutter problem'.The magazine reports that the 'clutter' included 10 rescue cats, with a judge telling him that he needed to 'deal with his disorder'.At the time, he was working as a building superintendent, but also dabbled in 'minor car repairs, handyman work, a little locksmithing' to make ends meet.Tarangelo also sells items at flea markets, with some of the stuff stored in his RV serving as inventory for his stall.
While those who work in the neighborhood have grown fond of Tarangelo, and look out for him on their commutes, those who have to share the district with him are less enamoredWhen Tarangelo first moved in to his van, he still owned three dogs called Spot, Cinnamon, and Pickles, and one cat named Samantha, the only feline he wasn't forced to give up.Tarangelo had a run in with animal control officers two years ago after claiming the ASPCA officials put down his dog Spot behind his back.The animal was put down after a neighbor complained of abuse because of a large red patch on its back, though Tarangelo claimed it was cancer for which the dog was being treated.Of his original animal companions, only one now remains - a border collie mix named Pickles.
