Thursday, April 10, 2008

Mandatory residency for city workers criticized


Sources say members of DC 37 and the Council have come to an unofficial agreement that would require new city workers to live in the five boroughs for at least two years.

But the Bloomberg administration doesn't seem happy with that compromise.


DC 37 contract stalled over residency

Here is the real question: Why can't anyone afford to live in the city anymore?

Everywhere I look, new buildings are going up in areas where working New Yorkers thrived - Long Island City, Astoria, Greenpoint and Williamsburg, just to name a few.

Almost all are being touted as luxury (read expensive) units. The few affordable units are usually set aside for people who make very low wages with limits below the salaries of city workers.

Meanwhile, rent-stabilized apartments are disappearing. Mitchell-Lama and other housing built for middle-class New Yorkers are going market rate. You can't just blame owners for this one. In many cases, tenants are willing participants.

Mayor Bloomberg's plan to create and maintain affordable housing has been lauded by many. But it doesn't seem to be enough to help his city workers find or keep housing in the current market.

More here: Intro. 452 Restores Fairness and Choice for DC 37 Members

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I remember when NYC cops lived in NYC. The city was a better place then. Coincidence?
Not a chance.
If all the cops lived in the city, it would guarentee better protection. Each of the blue line would protect the neighborhood that other members of the blue line lived.
The big problem is that the unions control all the rules.

Anonymous said...

And Brian Mc Laughlin is one of the
biggest of the big union crooks that control NYC!

Anonymous said...

This idea that city workers can't afford to live in NYC is a myth. There are plenty of nice areas that are affordable to people with incomes of cops, firefighters, teachers,etc.

Anonymous said...

Put your money where your mouth is, anonymous #2. Please tell us which "nice area's" and give us the approximate value of purchased homes or average rents for the area.

Anonymous said...

What next - our politicans will want to live in NJ?

All NYC employees should and must have a residency requirement, how could you not? You need to have employees have a stake including residency to be effective in running services of our government. There are incentives that can ease this requirement - such as having a job these days!

Anonymous said...

World War II is over. Time to end rent control.

This is the US. NYC must no longer be a sanctuary city.

Both those factors are large contributors to the cost of living in NYC.

We are paying more for: overcrowded cities, overcrowded hospitals, city services, crime, etc.

Want "affordable" housing (whatever that is)? Free property owners to charge market rates and profit.

Profitable owners will maintain, build, and compete for tenants. Rent control prevents competition, maintenance, and severely discourages building.

Anonymous said...

That last poster is a slum lord....
full of crap up to his ears!

Anonymous said...

"Parkchester" in the Bronx,
was built primarily for middle class and was inhabited by many municipal workers.

My uncle, a cop, once lived there
until he retired from the force.

If you look at
the terra cotta sculptures
which adorn the buildings.....
you can spot figures such as
a fireman holding a water hose etc.

The prices for apartments there
are still quite low.

Anonymous said...

you can spot figures such as
a fireman holding a water hose etc.
----------------------------------

And if you look even closer you can spot some fire victims jewelry box under his bunker gear!

Anonymous said...

PARKCHESTER? You mean as in the Metropolitan Oval area? Westchester Square? Just off the Cross Bronx Expressway at Westchester Avenue? I know you mean well, but I'm originally from Watson Avenue and I regret to inform you what was once a solid and stable working class complex is now and has been for a couple of decades now a crime riddled mess.

Anonymous said...

You're full 'o crap
my dear "Watson"!

I have friends that still live there who I often visit,
so I know better.

Don't blame Parchester
for the crime in the surrounding area, but all of those Robert Moses era low income projects that went up in the Bronx
in the early 1950s.....
beginning with the infamous
"Sound View"!

That's where I grew up....
accross the street on on
Rosedale Ave.

So stop talking shit about
what you don't really know!

Anonymous said...

Do your own homework on rents and housing. I can tell you that in Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood and Rego Park, you can find plenty of nice two- and three- bedroom homes in the 400 - 600k range, and 1 to 3 bedroom apartments in the 1300 - 2200 range, depending on size and location. There are other nice areas in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx with similar prices. These prices are well affordable for households in the 80 - 150k income range.

Anonymous said...

If all the cops lived in the city, it would guarentee better protection. Each of the blue line would protect the neighborhood that other members of the blue line lived.
--------------
I agree. Turn over the public housing to them.

Anonymous said...

As of 2006, the average salary of a DC37 member is $28,000.

Tell me how they're supposed to afford a $600,000 house in NYC.

Anonymous said...

They are not. Who ever said a low-income worker was entitled to own a big nice house in Middle Village?

Anonymous said...

Nice big house? $600K is getting you about 900 sq ft of house with no backyard.

Anonymous said...

you said

"Do your own homework on rents and housing. I can tell you that in Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood and Rego Park, you can find plenty of nice two- and three- bedroom homes in the 400 - 600k range, and 1 to 3 bedroom apartments in the 1300 - 2200 range, depending on size and location. There are other nice areas in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx with similar prices. These prices are well affordable for households in the 80 - 150k income range."

i have to disagree on your logic
150k income does not equal 600k house-

600k house even with 20% dp (120k is alot of cash) is still 3300-3400
a month with taxes and ins. what about maintenance, and if you have even 1 kid forget it

these homes are way overpriced for the incomes in the area

not to many households making 150k a year in those parts

funny thing is my wife and i are are close to 150k a year and we have substantial $$ for a downpayment and will not buy one of these overpriced places in dire need of repair

this part of queens needs to correct pricing at least 10-20% before it becomes affordable

screw being house poor who wants to pay 50% or more of their net income for housing i don't

i can rent a huge place for $1700 and call my landlord when things break

do not fall for some local realtors bs they are delusional

most of these people in these areas bougth their home for a song and expect you to be a gateway to their retirement by signing your life away for 30 years

don't do it be patient prices will fall as mortgages become harder to get and 20% dp is required again

Anonymous said...

150k income translates to take home income of approximately 7500-8000 per month. Sorry but even under your analysis a 600k house is affordable. You will be waiting forever if you think house prices are going to drop another 20-30 percent. It is more likely that prices will jump once the credit issues work through the market over the next 9-12 months. Till then, prices will probably stay level.

We Light Up Queens said...

I absolutely agree with this new proposed requirement. As the posters above, there is a housing crisis for city workers where they fall in this "in between" category.

Anonymous said...

The city should sweeten the pot for city workers. No property taxes on their dwelling during the first five years of the residency period.

Anonymous said...

you said

150k income translates to take home income of approximately 7500-8000 per month. Sorry but even under your analysis a 600k house is affordable. You will be waiting forever if you think house prices are going to drop another 20-30 percent. It is more likely that prices will jump once the credit issues work through the market over the next 9-12 months. Till then, prices will probably stay level.

if you think these current credit issues will work themselves out in 9-12 months i have a bridge in brooklyn to sell you

it will get alot worse before it gets better

inflation is running wild on food and fuel and i max out my 401k for retirement so my actual net income is much less

you should do the same social security is peanuts and will not be around when i retire

i know so many people with cash and great jobs who are waiting as well

why have the same homes been for sale in the area for over a year and in some cases 2 years?

because they are overpriced

sell them to the developers who will knock em down and build more multi family dwellings

that is what is happening my friends so keep those wishing prices high