Poll: Many Residents Don't Heart NYC
Although crime is way down and more tourists than ever are flocking here, a poll from Crain’s (subscription req’d) shows that about a third of New Yorkers think conditions in the city are deteriorating. The results of the poll, which are highlighted in a Daily News article, underscore a growing divide between the way the…
Although crime is way down and more tourists than ever are flocking here, a poll from Crain’s (subscription req’d) shows that about a third of New Yorkers think conditions in the city are deteriorating. The results of the poll, which are highlighted in a Daily News article, underscore a growing divide between the way the city is viewed by minorities and whites and the rich and poor. While 61 percent of white respondents said public transportation is good or excellent, only 41 percent of blacks rated it similarly; 20 percent of black respondents, meanwhile, called public schools poor, compared to 6 percent of white respondents who said they were in bad shape. The growing cost of housing is also weighing heavily on New Yorkers: Five years ago, 8 percent of poll respondents said it was difficult to cover their rent or mortgage, but now 18 percent say it’s hard to cover the cost of keeping a roof over their head. The poll results show that the city is losing its middle class, according to former Housing Commissioner Jerilyn Perine. “We used to have a bell curve, with most people in the middle,” she says. “Now you’re seeing a flattening of that curve and a growing high end and a growing poverty rate.”
One-Third Say New York Getting Worse [NY Daily News]
Photo by nuholeinmyshoe.
Interesting, although rather obvious. Kinda like hiring an overpaid weatherperson to look outside and tell you it’s raining.
Disparity in opinion over public transportation – Manhattan is pretty well served, but when you get out into the outer parts of the boroughs, where many more minorities live, options are much more limited. One train to Canarsie, 2 trains to parts of ENY, far from each other, a bus to the train in most of Queens and the North Bronx.
Public schools – take this forum as a demographic example of mostly white public school attendence, and project it to the rest of the city, especially in Manhattan – the better off you are, the less likely you will send your kids to public school, or you will fight tooth and nail to get them into those few schools deemed excellent. That leaves the public school system disproportionately to minority and lower income kids of all kinds. And we all know most schools are not up to snuff for anyone’s standards.
We know middle class housing opportunities are few and far between. Most of the middleclass people here in our neighborhoods have been here for ten years or more, that’s the only way they can afford to live here – they bought/rented when it was much cheaper. Anyone trying to come in now is basically out of luck.
Agreed 11:21–that is absurd.
This city is in big trouble of housing rates continue to go nuts.
I was looking at an ‘affordable’ housing project on Myrtle, and for a studio, the minimum income was 76K.
I’m sorry – that’s not affordable. If you’re making 76K and are single you don’t need help.
You know what’s a nice state of mind to live with? A state of mind and being where you are not in a constant panic about your real estate investment.
Try it.
If you love your house or apt, you love or at least like your neighbors and in general you are happy with your life, you are so much better off than most of humanity. Just be thankful for it, and relax.
I think that the whole country is in a pretty bleak mood. Polling that has been done in relation to the presidential election has reflected this. But I agree that many New Yorkers are feeling suspicious of what direction the city is headed in.
You see more negative stuff now because everyone is still in vacation mode- there isn’t much to report on right now so the negatives occupy peoples time.
It’s the end of your world as you know.
10:24-
It most definitely could be a projection of something, but I think I’m starting to notice more news stories on muggings and robberies lately and, from there, I’m picking up on more negativity in general than I usually do. I was recently wondering if I was the only one seeing this, and after reading the post above, I thought I’d find out if other people feel the same way. That’s my only intention…I in no way meant to make any sort of declaratory statement. Just had a question…
The growing poverty and high end maybe true – but also maybe true for the country in general. The city has always been losing its ‘middle class’ – and has always been creating a new one. Think of the huge immigrant population here in recent years and improving their situation. (and remember it is them that has increased NYC population, demand for housing,etc – not the mid-westerers so derided by a certain few commentors on this sice).
P.S. – TO 16thStreeter – your comment sounds like projection of your feelings onto others.