HIGH SOCIETY SCANDAL: The Eccentric Millionaire Who Trashed The Venerable National Arts Club Has Finally Been Kicked Out

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1 von 12 24.11.2012 14:07 The Life HIGH SOCIETY SCANDAL: The Eccentric Millionaire Who Trashed The Venerable National Arts Club Has Finally Been Kicked Out Julie Zeveloff Feb.

The longtime president of the club, an eccentric millionaire named O.

1 1 von :07 The Life HIGH SOCIETY SCANDAL: The Eccentric Millionaire Who Trashed The Venerable National Arts Club Has Finally Been Kicked Out Julie Zeveloff Feb. 17, 2012, 11:09 AM 57,623 8 Recommend 7 Share 2 Tweet 15 0 Over the summer we wrote about a high society scandal wracking the National Arts Club, a 113-year-old institution on Gramercy Park. The longtime president of the club, an eccentric millionaire named O. Aldon James, had nearly driven the club into the ground through supposed financial mismanagement, shady apartment rentals, and an overall inability to keep the place clean. James was removed from his 25-year reign in March, but it was only last night that the club officially expelled him from its ranks, meaning he will have to give up his apartments in the AP Images/Wikipedia storied building, DNAinfo reports. His twin brother and a friend were also expelled, according to DNAinfo. James reportedly used the club to hoard massive amounts of junk, and he rented apartments to family members for a small fraction of their market rates. He's also been blamed for a rash of dead exotic finches that started turning up around Gramercy Park in March, according to The New York Daily News. James and the two other men who were expelled are currently under investigation by both the State Attorney General and New York District Attorney General's offices, DNAinfo writes. Want to see what a mess this place was? Check out these before-and-after photos of the massive cleanup effort that took place after James stepped down last spring. Many of the "before" photos were taken by Miguel Serrano, a doorman at the NAC who was fired by James and re-hired by the board; and Luis Alfredo Garcia, a former employee who filed a New York State labor complaint against James after leaving in 2009, according to a source. Amy Zimmer, a news editor at DNAinfo, took the "after" pictures. The National Arts Club is located in a stunning Gothic Revival brownstone overlooking Gramercy Park

2 2 von :07 Wikipedia BEFORE: The front desk, piled with papers and books BEFORE: O. Aldon James' office was loaded with papers, a cowboy hat and an old blowup globe Courtesy Luis Garcia via DNAinfo

3 3 von :07 AFTER: The same office, after the cleanup BEFORE: The "Bird Room," complete with Chinese takeout bags and racks of clothing Courtesy Miguel Serrano via DNAinfo BEFORE: A fetid bird cage in the "Bird Room"

4 4 von :07 AFTER: The "Bird Room" is now a workspace BEFORE: The boardroom of the National Arts Club in 2009 Courtesy of Luis Garcia via DNAinfo

5 5 von :07 AFTER: The boardroom, today BEFORE: Mountains of junk filled the presidential office Courtesy DNAinfo AFTER: Great views of Gramercy Park from the empty presidential office

6 6 von :07 Courtesy Miguel Serrano via DNAinfo BEFORE: A damaged ceiling in the art storage room BEFORE: An apartment in the National Arts Club, prior to cleanup Courtesy Miguel Serrano via DNAinfo

7 7 von :07 AFTER: A bare apartment in the club AFTER: A bookshelf-lined apartment sits empty AFTER: Many of the apartments appear damaged in photos

8 8 von :07 AFTER: Another apartment, post cleanup

9 9 von :07 AFTER: The fireplace in this apartment is now visible AFTER: Much of the debris was carted out in dumpsters Courtesy DNAinfo AFTER: Artwork is still being appraised. This painting has a gash; the frame is worth an estimated $5,000

buildings on Gramercy Park INSIDE GRAMERCY PARK:

10 10 von :07 Source: DNAinfo BEFORE: There's still a ways to go in the club library The National Arts Club is still one of the most impressive buildings on Gramercy Park INSIDE GRAMERCY PARK: 16 Things You Never Knew About The Most Exclusive Park In Manhattan > Recommended For You

11 von 12 24.11.2012 14:07 The End Of The Smartphone Era Is Coming Several Top Economists Privately Told Obama That He Screwed Up The Recovery In One Major Way HACKED STRATFOR EMAILS: Analysts Didn't

.. A Charming British Inn In O... Comments on this post are now closed.

Aldon James, had nearly driven the club into the ground through supposed financial mismanagement, shady apartment rentals, and an overall inability to keep the place clean.

So, here's the big question: Who benefited from the expulsion of this guy? Who is on the board? Who owns the club? Is it changing hands?

11 11 von :07 The End Of The Smartphone Era Is Coming Several Top Economists Privately Told Obama That He Screwed Up The Recovery In One Major Way HACKED STRATFOR S: Analysts Didn't Believe Bin Laden Was Buried At Sea Hillary Clinton Is At A Real Disadvantage In Israel Tags: Culture, Features, Scandals Get Alerts for these topics» Share: Short URL Twitter Facebook Buzz Digg StumbleUpon Reddit LinkedIn Embed Alerts Newsletter Julie Zeveloff is a senior editor at Business Insider. Contact: jzeveloff@businessinsider.com URL: Subscribe to her RSS feed twitter feed View her Google+ profile Recent Posts How To Stock Your Home Bar... The World's Tallest Buildin... A Charming British Inn In O... Comments on this post are now closed. The Water Cooler 8 Comments Xenophon on Feb 17, 8:45 PM said: "The longtime president of the club, an eccentric millionaire named O. Aldon James, had nearly driven the club into the ground through supposed financial mismanagement, shady apartment rentals, and an overall inability to keep the place clean." What do you mean "supposed"? As a journalist, you shouldn't be "supposing," you should be finding out the truth. Who supposes these things? You don't say. So, here's the big question: Who benefited from the expulsion of this guy? Who is on the board? Who owns the club? Is it changing hands? This sounds like some shady attempt by SOMEBODY to acquire this prime real estate. Why is BI assisting? Are you getting a cut of the action? Frisker on Feb 18, 1:55 AM I think "Xenophon" above is Steven Leitner, the "friend" mentioned in the article. Steven, you're a whiz at deflecting attention away from what's actually happening, namely, that Aldon and John are insane. Xenophon on Feb 18, 1:31 PM So you're on a first-name basis with them, eh? The insanity of the three is certainly NOT the point. The point is: What has the club's board been doing all these years and what are its intentions now. Read some commentary on the skepticism of members about the board: "Some members are skeptical that much will change since the organization's constitution remains the same and board members seven of whom will be voted in on Tuesday are still elected by a nominating committee rather than directly by membership. "The board is still isolated from the members," said one member, who asked to remain anonymous. "They make no effort to find out from

12 the members what changes they think should be affected." The club's newsletters, for instance, include pictures of celebs who win the club medals the May edition features playwright Edward Albee, who will receive a Medal of Honor rather than information about the current controversy, the member complained. Steve Miller, a museum director who left the club more than seven years ago over frustration of how it was being run, had written a letter to the club's board members 10 years ago when the club's finances were being investigated about his concerns and said many of the questions he asked then are still valid today. "I would want an independent, dispassionate audit of the last 10 years," he said. "I would want to know, what are you going to do to include members, keep members informed and make sure this doesn't happen again?" He also said he would have questions about the structural conditions of the club's highly coveted piece of real estate at 15 Gramercy Park South and about the apartments. "What are people paying for rent, or if they bought apartments, how much did they pay? And most importantly, how is tenancy determined? Who made that decision in the past and how will it be made in the future?" Miller said he could understand some members' skepticism. "If the new board was truly interested in making changes, that would be well received, but it is not a new board," he said. "Naturally, the feeling is, why all of a sudden are these people professing to be concerned about the appropriate functioning of the club?"" I bet the Board is on the make. Sounds like a jaundiced and watchful eye in their direction is warranted. Luis Alfredo Garcia on Feb 25, 1:09 AM He abused employees and created an unsafe work place so we exposed him.he happened to be doing a lot of other shady things that negatively effected and endangered many people's lives and disregarded the mission of the Club. He abused his position, he abused trust and now he has been removed from any position to harm anyone. No one owns the Club it's supposed to be a nonprofit that provides a public good supported by it's members and its tax free status. Christian Bailey on Feb 17, 9:32 PM said: looks like an episode of hoarders Rafaela Pyette (URL) on Feb 25, 12:25 AM said: It depends on the maintenance of the 6, as well as the body shape. But I had a Mazda 6 and they last for a very long time, my engine still ran fine even after the car was totaled. I also have an Uncle who owned a 1982 Mazda Pick up truck and it has over and is still running great. Syble Herd (URL) on Feb 25, 3:47 PM said: Hi, Leora,Thanks for the simple to follow instructions which, for some, could be a real mind bender! Step-by-step is always so appreciated by readers to help with our online businesses. Herta Falvey (URL) on Mar 12, 1:22 AM said: Thenks for this info!! Right now I am learning wordpress! 12 von :07

Social. Media. in prevention efforts. Lyndsey Hawkins. Bradley University

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