The parents of the 35-year-old actor still live in the federally subsidized building where Diesel grew up and pay only $500 a month rent, a source claims.

The Westbeth Artists Housing complex, in New York City's Greenwich Village, was created in the late 1960s to provide affordable homes for local artists. Diesel's family scored one of the 385 units in the moderate-income community, thanks to his stepfather, Irving Vincent, a theater director and teacher.

Now that Diesel just landed $20 million to star in a sequel to last weekend's big box-office thriller, some neighbors are unhappy that his parents continue to benefit from federal subsidies meant to help impoverished artists.

"When Westbeth was started, it was envisioned that young artists would come here, stay there, get successful, and move on," emphasized Carl Stein, president of the board of directors.

"Outside artists might feel resentment toward those who have made it but have not left, because there is a seven-year waiting list to get a unit."

Diesel's mother, astrologer Delora Vincent, would say only: "We're very new to this. I can't comment."

Toby Fleischman, Diesel's spokeswoman, gave us a little lecture for calling Diesel's parents, saying: "That was a big no-no." Really? She then refused to comment on the situation.

Suit targets suits

One Wall Street watchdog may need someone to examine its own business practices.

Whistleblower Patrick S. Allocco, a former ad salesman for Barron's magazine, a Dow Jones publication, has filed suit against the company, claiming that Dow Jones management encouraged employees to regularly charge their own meals, theater tickets and strip-club excursions as corporate client expenses. Allocco also claims he was fired after he reported the alleged practices to an internal auditor.

"The use of expense accounts was open and notorious," Allocco claimed in papers filed in U.S. District Court.

"On occasions too numerous to mention, plaintiff was instructed to use his corporate American Express card and/or to take cash advances to pay for strippers and lap dances for the employees of the marketing department ... at Scores, Stringfellows, Billy's Topless or Camelot in Washington, D.C."

Allocco wants $5 million for wrongful termination.

Dow Jones spokesman Steve Goldstein responded: "The principal part of that suit involving breach of contract was dismissed by the judge, and the remaining parts of the suit are totally meritless."

Allocco's lawyer, Dominic Barbara, told us: "Dow Jones did not deny the allegations. It's interesting that the company that watches over all the other companies had the business practices that are described in our lawsuit.

"In the very near future, we will release facts to the public which will be both shocking and of interest to certain governmental agencies."

Gangsta of love

The Original Gangster and his new fiancee sound like an order at Starbucks. Rapper-actor Ice-T plans to exchange vows with Coco, aka Nicole Austin, a bosomy 23-year-old swimsuit model he met on a video shoot in January.

"It was lust at first sight, and then it was love," the 44-year-old "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star told us. The couple wore his-and-her pink Versace outfits to Tuesday night's VH1 and Self magazine party at Eyebeam in Manhattan.

"He picks out my clothes every day so we can always match," cooed Coco, whose next spread is in KING magazine. "In fact, we do everything together. We never leave each other's side."

"Forget the so-called celebrity hot couples. We have better sex than all of them," boasted Ice-T.

The two hope that preacher Bishop Don Magic Juan will marry them, since it was he who gave the advice to "put a ring on that playa'." T promptly bought Coco's heart-shaped diamond engagement ring.

Meanwhile, Linda Marie Sanchez, a 28-year-old actress, claims that a DNA test confirms that Ice-T is the father of her 10-month-old son and is seeking 17 percent of his adjusted gross income to support her child. He denies the claim.

Strife of Bryan

The title of Bryan Ferry's newest album, "Frantic," may describe more than just his hectic touring schedule.

The dreamy-voiced rocker's wife, Lucy, is telling friends that the couple have separated and are headed for divorce, according to our source.