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I agree with the poster who says it's probably better not to demolish the projects, since the likely result would be the destabilization of existing working class areas. If for anything, there should be more set asides within the public housing system for homeless transitional housing to get people off the street. NYCHA should be reserved as a saftey net for those who truly have no where else to go (Mentally ill for example), not a permanent entitlement.
The projects are working class? More like the moocher class
The projects are working class? More like the moocher class
Well, my Dad raised us in a project in Manhattan (not naming which one), but he wasn't a moocher - he was a US marine who fought in Vietnam and had worked for the MTA for 30 years after he came out, and later retired on a full pension. My mom currently lives on his pension as he passed away.
My brother has his own business after having left the NYPD (and now lives in his own home in California - bought with his own money).
As for me, I just finished a Masters degree in computer science two months ago from Columbia University. (No loans - my job paid for it entirely ).
Oh, and I live alone in Manhattan in a regular building.
So I don't know what you mean by, "moocher class" but it is possible to be successful having lived in da' projects - and I have no regrets at all as far as that part of my life is concerned.
I think the tenants should be incorporated into low, government housing mixed in with everyone else. Build smaller, buildings or designate certain apartments within existing buildings as "government housing units." A lot of the housing projects could be razed and the property could be much denser, with market rate and affordable, and even government units mixed in.
I think they key here is to not segregate these government-dependent people, because these pockets of public housing cause values to decline and can be crime havens (not all of course). There are some great people living in them, and not all are there because they are lazy and/or milking the system.
I think we maintain/keep the government units of housing, just mixed in with regular housing in the boroughs. Raze and/or renovate the existing housing and intermix the government homes.
Maybe this idea has already been thrown out there time and again, but isn't feasible for some reason?
^ because no one when given the choice wants to live near lowlives. And the risk is too high that agreeing with a plan like yours entails lowlives moving in next door with all of the incumbent issues.
Well, my Dad raised us in a project in Manhattan (not naming which one), but he wasn't a moocher - he was a US marine who fought in Vietnam and had worked for the MTA for 30 years after he came out, and later retired on a full pension. My mom currently lives on his pension as he passed away.
My brother has his own business after having left the NYPD (and now lives in his own home in California - bought with his own money).
As for me, I just finished a Masters degree in computer science two months ago from Columbia University. (No loans - my job paid for it entirely ).
Oh, and I live alone in Manhattan in a regular building.
So I don't know what you mean by, "moocher class" but it is possible to be successful having lived in da' projects - and I have no regrets at all as far as that part of my life is concerned.
The vast majority of people in the projects are on some kind of government assistance. The projects are not "working class", they are low class despite a few rare exceptions. There's really no denying that.
Yes, many people in the projects may hold a little service/retail job but they still mostly receive govt assistance.
I don't know - is it really any different today? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I just haven't been invited to a housing project for years now.
I have never been in one except to cut through the grounds...like from Third to Second at 101st St to get to Cherry Valley Supermarket. (I like to walk up Third because Second is a filthy construction site with narrow sidewalks (single file) and multiple detours back and forth.
Walking Second Ave. is a pain in the ass in this heat.
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