It's Tough Out There for a Middle-Class New Yorker
Income levels that would enable a very comfortable lifestyle in other locales barely suffice to provide the basics in New York City, says the the Center for an Urban Future in a new report that merely provides data to back up what all city residents already new. The group estimates that the same quality of…
Income levels that would enable a very comfortable lifestyle in other locales barely suffice to provide the basics in New York City, says the the Center for an Urban Future in a new report that merely provides data to back up what all city residents already new. The group estimates that the same quality of life that costs $50,000 a year in Houston will run you $123,322 in the Big Apple; San Francisco is a distant second at $95,489 with LA at $80,583 and Philadelphia at $69,196. In addition, many New Yorkers put up with commutes that double the national average of 25 minutes. One Brooklyn Bridge Park even gets an unnamed reference: “If it wasn’t already clear that the cost of living in New York City is greatly out-of-whack with the rest of the country, it certainly became apparent in early 2008 when a new condo development in Brooklyn Heights began selling individual parking spaces—not apartments, parking spaces—for as much as $280,000.” So it’s no surprise that the report finds that many people have been giving up on New York. In fact, twice as many people with bachelor’s degrees left New York in 2005-2006 than in the prior two-year period. So what’s to do: Among other recommendations, the report suggests diversifying the economy, focus on basic infrastructure and quality of life issues rather than building flashy new projects and increase housing stock that is affordable to the middle class.
I didn’t see this year’s Orfeo & Euridice, but I listened on the radio. I saw it done at BAM about 20 or so years ago. I’m not a huge fan of Mark Morris’s opera direction.
So far the best thing I’ve seen this season was concert version of Elektra at NY Phil.
‘Did you happen to see Orfeo y Euridice at the MET?’
I’ll buy the bootleg copy of it on the street for $5.
Rob, good anecdote.
I sat in the same row as Michael Moore at a movie once.
seems pretty silly to come up with figures by borough.
Why not then take san francisco and then tell us how much to be middle calls in Pacific Hts as compared to a middle class neighborhood.
Compare stats from 1 city to the next – not an affluent part of one to entire enchilada for another.
Mopar,
While I’ve been known to do that on occasion (the tie one on in Williamsburg part) my posts are factual. It’s not a fictional character so much as one that seems to have skewed far outside of my actual persona.
And btw, I ALWAYS wear skinny jeans.
p.s. I would NEVER go look at the Edge. My love of Brownstones is 100% solid.
operas. jeez. how old are some of you? 150!? just kidding. (sorta)
*r*
So, 11217, are you telling us that your real self likes to sneak out in the middle of the night in skinny jeans to tie one on in a Williamsburg speakeasy and bid on condos in the Edge?
mopar: Even within a boro, there are huge differences with housing costs. Obviously, you have to take some average to get to a number. I am wondering if this takes into account the average cost of Manhattan real estate? If it does, then the numbers are meaningless as a large number of manhattan dwellings were never built for the middle class and/or haven’t had middle class residents living in them in decades. Also, how can Nassau be cheaper than Queens? The real estate taxes and commuting costs alone should make Nassau more expensive.
Totally agree Sparafucile.
Granted I work in the business, but I go to at least 10 operas a year also, and to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, BAM, and others another 40-50 times a year, minimum.
Did you happen to see Orfeo y Euridice at the MET?