Wednesday Links

Gowanus Expressway. Photo by Limonada
Grass Roots Wireless Network for City [City Limits]
New York Lags in Housing Creation [NY Sun]
RPA: Atlantic Yards Warm-Up [The Real Estate]
Religious Jews Tough RE Customers [New York Magazine]
Blogumentary Screening Tonight [Gothamist]
America's Priciest Dorms [Business Week]
Greenmarket Growing Pains [Plenty Magazine]
Storefronting: This Is The Edge [Curbed]
When To Get An Adjustable [Best Syndication]
Architectural Safeguards in PLG? [Across the Park]

Comments

Thanks for posting the link to NY Mag about how religious Jews are tough as a customer, that’s really an important issue in a blog about Brooklyn.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 23, 2006 10:41 AM

The blog is about real estate and the article is about them being tough customers for real estate agents.

Posted by: brownstoner at August 23, 2006 10:45 AM

To finish your thought brownstoner: which, given the size of the religious community in Brooklyn, and such issues as proximity of home and synagogue, makes it relevant to Brooklyn.

Posted by: crouchback at August 23, 2006 11:14 AM

Crouchback is right. But I do fault NY Magazine for the headline. religious Jews have specific requirements- the headline makes it sound negative,like they're tough because they are religious Jews, rather than just trying to get what they need. You know, like all the rest of us. I'm sure between the demands of yuppies, divas, established older couples and investors, real estate agents have it tough all over.

Posted by: jennyanne at August 23, 2006 11:51 AM

Jennyanne is absolutely correct. If there is any fault here, it lies with NY Magazine, which gave the impression that another small minority group (especially this one) expected the world to stop spinning one way and turn the other, in regards to real estate. The article then goes on to list perfectly reasonable requirements of an established religion, which should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the Orthodox community, which should include brokers in this market. New York Mag should be ashamed of themselves.

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at August 23, 2006 2:07 PM

Not to defend NY Mag (because I really can't stand it; it's not what it used to be), but that title is clearly a teaser. If they don't get your attention with a headline, you don't buy the mag, they don't make $$...

Posted by: Anonymous at August 23, 2006 4:21 PM

Very true, 4:21. But it doesn't make it better. About 6 months ago the Post had a huge headline, "Jew refuses jury duty". Anti-semitism is on the rise and all those things play into it. As a Jew, I sometimes differ with the Hasidic community on the things they do, but, as with any religious group, it's a matter of cause and effect. Jews (Orthodox) cannot turn on electric lights until Sat. sundown- because of the Sabbath, not because they were born Jews. Muslims pray 5 times a day, facing Mecca because Islam requires this- not because they were born Muslims. Prejudice presupposes that a trait is somehow biologically connected to a particular group (for good or bad) and therefore is used as justification for bias.

The more its used in trivial ways, the more people get used to thinking that way, and the easier it is to accept prejudice and discrimination. And that is never good.

Posted by: jennyanne at August 23, 2006 7:12 PM

Jennyanne, I'm 4:21. You're correct, of course, and I agree with you...it doesn't make it any better, and it is never good. Unfortunately, society has become more intolerant these days, and it is disturbing on many levels. Still, NYMag demonstrates that it's interested only in $$ by creating a misleading headline which they know will attract attention, sell their magazine. We could go on and on about the responsibility of the media, but that's an issue for another time, another blog, I guess. Thanks for your thoughts.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 24, 2006 10:44 AM

And you too, Anon 10:44. Of course, You're preaching to the converted here. And Thank you for a civil discourse on a very difficult subject.

Posted by: jennyanne at August 25, 2006 12:38 AM

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August 23, 2006

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