THE QUEEN OF MEAN GOT
ME PISSED
Leona got
her title for good reason. She was
ruthless and mean. Stories of her
business and personal brutality were Legendary.
The Helmsley's
were filthy rich; Their Hotels and other real estate were worth billions. Apparently that was not enough. Though they paid millions in taxes, the
Helmsley's hid some Hotel profits by lavishing their private properties using hotel
profits and declaring it business expense.
To be fair, this was a common practice, and even today many meals which
have nothing to do with “Entertaining” go on a business credit card.
When Ronald
Regan changed the graduated income tax schedule from Draconian highs for the
wealthy, over 70% for people earning over $200,000, the IRS also cracked down
on unreasonable business expenses. The
Helmsley's did not relent and they got caught.
Both
Helmsley's fought the charges and both went to jail. Many thought the main reason Leona went to
jail was because she was so unrepentant, and because she was just universally
disliked for her ruthless business tactics.
I was not
displeased when she went to jail. I had
a personal vendetta with the Queen of Mean.
In 1987
there was a frightening stock market crash.
Brokerage systems could not handle the incredible trading volume and the
back office operations were in danger of not being able to process
transactions. The collapse of back
office processing would have further exacerbated the market panic of that
time.
In 1987 I
was a supervisor of transaction processing for a large brokerage firm. When the crash hit on October 19, 1987 our
staff worked through the night. On day 2
of the panic many workers were put up in city hotels. With no sleep for thirty five plus hours, I
had a quick dinner and went to a Helmsley Hotel to share a room with my boss.
I showered
for the first time in days, and piled into my bed exhausted. As I drifted off to sleep, I rolled over and
was startled by sudden dampness and the foul odor of urine. It took several seconds before I realized what
I was lying in and then I jumped out of bed yelling “WTF!”
My boss was
startled, “What’s wrong?”
“This fucking mattress is soaked with
piss.”
“What?”
“Piss…Fucking Piss!”
We called
the desk and complained…I just wanted to sleep.
I took another shower and waited in a bathrobe for a new mattress. When services arrived with a new mattress,
they found the mattress soaked in pee, me in my bathrobe with sleep deprived
saggy eyes, and my older boss awake in his bed.
They changed
out the mattress with not an apology, but instead accusatory glances at two
“Gay Dudes” (Not that there is anything wrong with that) that couldn’t hold their water.
I was double
pissed. I called the desk demanding
money off (for the firm, I was not paying) a free breakfast, or complimentary
anything and an apology. I got nothing.
The Queen of
Mean’s personality apparently filtered down to her management and her staff.
Years later
when Leona was found guilty and sentenced to sixteen years in jail, I thought
the punishment was more than she deserved.
They made an example of Leona to warn others. They picked Leona to make an example because
she was so universally disliked.
It really
wasn’t fair. Harry and Leona got 16
years, practically life sentences. Leona
was 72, Harry 83.
How did I
feel about it?
“Fuck’em!”
Enjoyed reading the story...
ReplyDeleteI dream of being filthy rich, but would never ever be mean about it. My plan is to share with my family, that's about 2 dozen people.
ReplyDeleteI'd say those Helmsleys got what they deserved.
Well, that was a disturbing story! Gross!
ReplyDeleteAnd that picture makes me wonder if she was 'transitioning'?
I remember all that kerfuffle, and never shed a tear for Leona.
ReplyDeletePeople do take advantage of business tax expenses. One of my friends in an other job used to make doll dresses on the side. She would buy and use things once for the business and then for personal use as her accountant said that if she used even a small part of the things she bought still the whole purchase is tax deductable. Leona Hemsley took this loophole to a much greater level than a couple of yards of wholesale purchase of cloth or even thread and needle.
ReplyDeleteI always think about "Karma" when Leona's name comes up. I still cringe at her statement: Taxes are for the little people.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't remember so I googled her and saw that she served 19 months in jail and 2 months house arrest. I agree 16 years is a lot unless anyone else who didn't pay taxes got the same (heck "half" of Congress should be in jail). I think you were more tolerant than I would have been about the mattress.
ReplyDeletebetty
I remember her. Money doesn't guarantee class at all. Not one bit.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
I do remember that mess and I think her face alone made me glad she got prison. No one has a face like that unless it was earned. I always think Dorian Gray when I see that photo.
ReplyDeleteBest comment yet!
DeleteOh wow she just looks like a mean person. ....actually she kind of looks like a teacher from my elementary school, who was just as nice.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Leona leave her money to her dog? I'm surprised nobody paid a portly mailman to kidnap it...
ReplyDeleteI'd have been pissed off too.
ReplyDeleteShe was mean, and it's awful that they ran their hotels so poorly that housekeeping overlooked such a mess.
ReplyDeletea big 'ewww!' from me!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness that was not a nice experience for you! Really gross, in fact!
ReplyDeleteTotally understand how you felt! And since I'm one of those "little people" who pays taxes, I still have that same taste in my mouth as when she originally made that comment.
ReplyDeleteIs this one of those "Hand me a mop....with all this horse piss, there's gotta be
ReplyDeletea horse in here, somewhere" stories?
I do remember that Helmsley messy story. I'm getting so dang old, it seems
like yesterday. LOL