Will Union Demands Impede Affordable Housing?
The relationship between the city’s powerful labor unions and the real estate industry has been showing serious signs of strain lately, and one of Brooklyn’s biggest housing organizations says the rift could affect the creation of affordable housing even as it improves wages and, potentially, diversity in the industry. There’s been a spate of stories…
The relationship between the city’s powerful labor unions and the real estate industry has been showing serious signs of strain lately, and one of Brooklyn’s biggest housing organizations says the rift could affect the creation of affordable housing even as it improves wages and, potentially, diversity in the industry. There’s been a spate of stories over the past couple of weeks about how unions want livable wage clauses tied into projects that require rezoning or that benefit from city and state funding—projects, in other words, that often include affordable housing. The head of the Fifth Avenue Committee, which develops and manages affordable housing (the group’s current projects include Atlantic Terrace and the Red Hook Homes), says she supports the idea of using union labor—especially when unions commit to expanding and diversifying membership—but is wary of how it might impact the construction of affordable housing. We support unionization but we wouldn’t want it to negatively impact the number of affordable units being built, says Fifth Avenue Committee Executive Director Michelle de la Uz. De la Uz said the majority of the current government funding structures don’t include enough money to cover union wages for affordable housing and that government would have to commit to increasing funding for affordable housing projects by between 25 and 40 percent to ensure the use of union labor. Ironically, perhaps, the unions are also demanding that all redevelopment projects include affordable housing. Clusterf—!
Unions: Redevelopment Projects Should Have Affordable Housing Guarantees [NYDN]
11.18 PM;
Once again, you have shown how reasoned and respectful my opposition has been in this debate.
High debt?? What are you talking about??? For your information, the important metric is not the amount of debt, but the ratio of our debt to our gross domestic product. By this metric, the US is doing QUITE well, especially compared to the other major industrial countries (of which China is not yet a member).
I’m sure you won’t believe me, so here is an explanation from Northwest University of what I just said:
http://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/~mwitte/B01/handouts/deficit1.html
As you can see, the US has had much higher periods of indebtedness than the current time: after WWII, for instance. I invite you to google the debt/gdp ratio for other major countries, and you will see that their ratio is much higher than the US’s. But then again, that might mean that this debate moves into the realm of reason and facts, not vulgarity and name-calling.
By the way, I am amused that you call me a “relic”. I cited the companies that are on the pinnacle of innovation and value creation, and you talk about China. Yeah, that’s the way to the top of the heap these days: manufacturing $14 T-shirts.
Benson
What’s funny is that Benson thinks this country isn’t in debt up to our assholes to China. Brush up on your Mandarin, relic.
Every worker deserves respect. You can’t blame just the developers. I see plenty of really young spanish speaking kids working on brownstone renovations in Park Slope. Don’t they deserve a living wage as well? How many Forum posts on this site complain about the high costs of renovations. Do you ask whether those guys hauling dirt out of your basement in hundreds of plastic compound buckets are being covered by workers comp or S.S.? Or are you just concerned about the bottom line?
Karl;
It’s so great debating with people who appeal to vulgarity, emotion and class warfare, rather than reasoned argument.
Do you really want to compare the US economy to that of Europe’s? I suggest that you look at the overall facts, rather than just a buying spree by decandent European trust-babies.
Some facts:
-Over the past 20 years, there has been no employment growth in most advanced European economies, such as France, Italy, and until recently, Germany.
-There has been virtually no innovation in these moribund economies. During the past 25 years, vast new wealth has been created in the US due to the emergence of new companies, technologies and sectors. Tell me, Karl: where are the European equivalents of Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, UTube, Apple and Dell Computer????
-Most of the European counties are in a demogrpahic downward spiral. Italy, France, Germany and the Scandanavian countries produce more deaths than births.
A sad situation. That’s what you get when you reject personal liberty and responsibilty, and put your trust in a socialistic nanny-state.
I’ll expect your next irrational, vulgar, response.
Benson
Hey benson, you need to seriously get a life.
Hey Benny, I’ll make sure to mention that to all the Europeans jetting in to NYC to spend their mack diesel Euro against our flaccid, 98 pound weakling of a dollar.
What planet are you on, Asshat?
Sincerely,
Karl
Hey Benny, I’ll make sure to mention that to all the Europeans jetting in to NYC to spend their mack diesel Euro against our flaccid, 98 pound weakling of a dollar.
What planet are you on, Asshat?
6.13 PM and fellow travelers;
Instead of moving to the country, why not move to Western Europe, where unions are still very strong?? Regulation is also strong in every facet of the economy. It’s the paradise socialists are looking for: government-provided health care, housing, the works. It’s great.
Oh, that’s right, there’s just one problem: no jobs, no growth, a dying continent. Not even enough money for people to have more than one kid.
That’s the price you pay for following Karl.
Benson
Putnamdenizen and Johnife:
Good Words! Gotta put it in perspective! The race to the bottom while the few, with deregulation and continuing on the same anti-union/anti-worker tactics (and some new ones!) that have been in fashion since the mid-1800 get insanely rich. In fact, it was okay in the US after WWII. With the beginning of 70s deregulation which had done nothing but expand over the decades and “Free Trade” treaties pushed through in the last decades we are really in for it.
Oh, well…movin’ to a homestead in the country!