Nothing says “You can’t afford to have a roof over your head” like looking for a place to live in Brooklyn.
I haven’t exactly processed why it’s so expensive to live in Brooklyn –
where there’s so much competition among businesses and real estate
agencies. We’re all living on top of one another – and in many cases
WITH one another, renting illegal apartments and rooms that aren’t
documented. Regardless of how many multiple-family dwellings they put in
our community, no matter how many apartment buildings they erect,
everyone will complain that it’s “hard out there” and even being able to
afford rent – never mind a mortgage – is a financial challenge.
Two reports came out this week, proving that New York and its
minimum-wage workers are hopeless when it comes to living decently. The
first report I read was in USA Today, which stated that it’s nearly
impossible to afford rent on one minimum-wage job. The second story that
made living in the city seem discouraging was reading about the
protests wherein Brooklynites argued there’s not enough affordable
housing and the increased number of luxury apartment buildings going up
are driving them out of their communities.
My
instinct tells me that they’re (whoever “they” are) trying to push out
low-income residents who have menial minimum-wage jobs which aren’t
considered “professional.” This will, in turn, change the caliber of
people who move into a neighborhood. Let’s get real. Some of the
“affordable” and lowincome places to live in Brooklyn
are in dangerous neighborhoods where the crime rate is high and people
say, “I wouldn’t want to live there!” The wait to get into an apartment
in New York City Housing is sometimes years and then, when you move into
one of their units, you have to put up with being treated like you’re
an undeserving citizen.
Want to live in a DECENT place where your rent is based on your low-income status? Good luck!
USA Today claims minimum-wage workers in New York have to put in over
120 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment. That means you’d
have to work more than one job just to make the rent. What about feeding
your family, paying utility bills and eating? Leave all of that fancy
stuff to the middle and upper-class hipsters and yuppies moving into
Park Slope and Red Hook! If you’re making minimum wage at a cushy job,
you’re not going to be moving into a building with a rooftop deck.
That’s their way of saying, “You’re just not good enough to live here!”
The rat race doesn’t end there. The Daily News reported on Friday that the median rent for a twobedroom apartment in Brooklyn recently hit $2,890 – almost the same as living in Manhattan. Who can afford these places? Hot shot professionals who earn real salaries and aren’t struggling to raise a family.
Developers and real estate moguls don’t want low-income – or even
minority – residents to enjoy the same life as those who possibly works
less hours making thousands of more dollars a year. Also, if you’re
going to try to fool everyone by making modern condos and co-ops
available in low-income communities where crime is high – just to try to
turn it around – good luck with that too! We all know the appeal of
housing is based on the foundation of who you live around and what’s
nearby.
Canarsie can’t have “luxury
housing” – even if you provide residents with tools that will help them
pay a mortgage. Buying a co-op or condominium in our community doesn’t
mean you’re living in “luxury.” Look at the flavor of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
Do you really see that yuppie-like feeling coming to Canarsie, where
kids are being shot and robbed in the middle of the street?
In my humble opinion, “luxury living” would entail strolling through Canarsie
when school lets out and not being afraid of walking on the same side
of the street and behind a group of teenagers who wind up being rowdy
and arrogant. Chances are, if you’re living in an upscale neighborhood,
where a majority of residents and families make a lot more than minimum
wage, you’re not dealing with the dangers that exist in a low-income
community.
So, if you wonder why “affordable” and “luxury” housing aren’t
interchangeable terms, think about why they’ll never make decent (let’s
settle for less than luxury) apartments “affordable” to those who make
minimum wage. You’ll need to make A LOT more money to live some place
that’s safe for you and your family. Financial discrimination never
looked so good!
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