Is anyone else let down by NYC? (Portland, Charlotte: to buy, salary)

[newtoli]

Originally Posted by Henna

So what you're saying is that women should be gold-diggers, the kind who ignore everything else but just look for a guy who can take care of them financially?

I assume this is probably not what you meant, but that's how your post comes across by talking only about money when you mention what's good about your husband's cousin. Why not say - he may be short and fat but he's incredibly funny and talented and super nice, and besides that he makes an amazing living. That would be a whole different story than some guy whose best asset is ONLY making alot of money.

Totally agree with this. All that was mentioned was how this guy was not attractive, yet rich. What if he also has a horrific personality?

[jjbradleynyc]

Whoa, yeah, $43k for NYC is not much...it does equal out to what, about $600-$650 net, per week? You can live on that, but barely. I did for a while when I first came to NYC. I lived in Williamsburg, luckily, in a loft on south Broadway (in 2001), and paid my room's share of $600 per month. Yeah, $600! That was pretty cheap then...Then, I moved up to North 8th St and Kent Ave and paid my share again, which steadily rose from $750 per month, up to $900 per month. But I lived in a dope pad that overlooked the city--I loved it. It's all about what 'hood you are in, when living in NYC. Whether it's the Bronx or Staten Island, your 'hood can't be depressing.
Not to "pile on" the original poster, but Astoria--to me--is depressing. Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Ft Greene, Brooklyn Heights--those areas I love. I think you can live anywhere in NYC on a budget if you look hard enough and are willing to make some concessions. This city is ALL about concessions and compromise.

[NS4Ever]

Originally Posted by Henna

So what you're saying is that women should be gold-diggers, the kind who ignore everything else but just look for a guy who can take care of them financially?

I assume this is probably not what you meant, but that's how your post comes across by talking only about money when you mention what's good about your husband's cousin. Why not say - he may be short and fat but he's incredibly funny and talented and super nice, and besides that he makes an amazing living. That would be a whole different story than some guy whose best asset is ONLY making alot of money.

No, that's not what I meant -- but, you're right -- I did leave out all the really great things about my husband's cousin, like yes, he's witty as anything, is a caring person who is good to his mom, and is a great friend to have.

I emphasized that he makes a great living, because that seems to be exactly what many of the women in Manhattan are after -- except they seem to want it all wrapped up in a designer-clad, metrosexual package.

Believe me, his best asset is NOT that he makes a lot of money; that is merely the icing on a really great cake.

[jlrobe]

Originally Posted by Mita718

Im from The Bronx and proud of it. When I was little I dreamed of having my own apartment in the city and hanging out in the Village with friends. Now New York is for the rich. If you want to find a decent priced apartment its nearly impossible unless you go to the most ghetto areas in the city. Its sad how everything is getting especially for me as a New Yorker.
Im a city girl at heart but the way things are going in New York Im planning my move to the West coast by this summer.
Being in the middle class in New York means nothing.
There is no median here. You are either rich and you can get what every you want or apply for section 8 and you dont even have to pay for your rent. (Section 8 isnt bad, its great for those who acutally need it )
Even affordable housing isnt for the middle class. Its for those who barely have an income coming in.
I think if New York paid more attention to its middle class things would be better.

The west coast is not much better. Im from SF and currently live in LA. Both cities are very expensive. Not as expensive as NYC, but expect to pay upwards of 2000/month for anything decent in either city.

You can try Seattle or Phoenix, but both cities have far fewer opportunities than LA, SF, and especially, NYC!

Dont get me wrong. I love the weather and the west coast in general, but I have run into hundreds of former New Yorkers. Let's just say, the west coast isnt always the answer.

[jlrobe]

Originally Posted by Mita718

Your right you can find low rents on both coasts. I have done my research on Cali and people can find a nice one bedroom apartment in Orange County for $850.00 a month. It is possible.

Take from a Californian, it isnt as good as it sounds. Most desirable places in Orange county are 1400+ for a 1 bedroom. Anything lower, and you are probably thinking about Little Saigon, Santa Ana, or other undesirable areas of orange county. Traffic is a complete mess. Orange county people routinely have to commute to LA on weekends to dine/party, and traffic can take over an hour on a saturday night.

There is SD, but most of SD is bland. The western edge of the city is very expensive as well.

Dont get me wrong. I love CA, but I wouldnt suggest running here because you still believe in manifest destiny crap.

Right now Boston, DC, SF, LA, and San Diego are expsensive. you cant avoid it on either coast. If you want cheap, you need to go to the middle of the country. Maybe the exurbs of Chicago!

[mead]

Originally Posted by jlrobe

Take from a Californian, it isnt as good as it sounds. Most desirable places in Orange county are 1400+ for a 1 bedroom. Anything lower, and you are probably thinking about Little Saigon, Santa Ana, or other undesirable areas of orange county. Traffic is a complete mess. Orange county people routinely have to commute to LA on weekends to dine/party, and traffic can take over an hour on a saturday night.

There is SD, but most of SD is bland. The western edge of the city is very expensive as well.

Dont get me wrong. I love CA, but I wouldnt suggest running here because you still believe in manifest destiny crap.

Right now Boston, DC, SF, LA, and San Diego are expsensive. you cant avoid it on either coast. If you want cheap, you need to go to the middle of the country. Maybe the exurbs of Chicago!

I've read that Chicago is still cheap and I know that Philly is still cheap (mostly due to the out of control violence). Short of that most of the interesting cities in the country nowadays are pretty expensive places to live.

[DITC]

Originally Posted by wingpop

Hi all,

I moved here 3 years ago after wanting to live here since I was 9. Everyone from my town in the Midwest is like, "NY? Do you love it????" Actually, no. It's been a big up and down.

I do give the city props that you can really fulfill any sort of career goal you have here, because the city has so much opportunity. But I'm feeling really let down by what I've found to be the reality of life here. I could rent in Manhattan but on my $43,000 annual salary this wouldn't leave me much to play with. I sublet with some horrible roommates in Sunset Park for 9 months when I first got here and it was awful!!! However, it was all I could find for less than $600 a month.

Now I live with my sister in Astoria but guess what!? We SHARE a one-bedroom apartment. Seriously? At 26 this is what my life is? Granted, I couldn't do it with anyone else but I feel like even those people who make a million a year always need more and more in this city. It's quickly becoming a place for the very wealthy. Since when is a six figure salary ****? Since rent in Tribeca for a 1-bedroom is $3500 a month.

Another disturbing thing I find is that people my age living in Manhattan don't pay their rent-their parents pay it. So me living in Queens is like, "Oh my god!" A lot of them don't even know where Red Hook is. I seriously don't think they have ever been to Queens or Brooklyn, and don't even mention (gasp) the Bronx.

This was just a city of my dreams and now that the dream is reality, it wasn't that dreamy after all. I'm glad I did it but I find myself wishing I lived in NY in the 70's when it was grittier. It's getting more and more homogenous with each passing year.

Thanks for reading. Please share your thoughts, or you can tell me to just stop whining!

Great post. It is pretty bland...when was the last interesting movie made about NY (and not some generic movie that has happens to have NY as a setting). Let me put it this way, if you had to make a suspense thriller in 2008 about NY it would be a gang of Williamsburg hipsters heisting Ipods from the Apple store.

What's interesting about living in Manhattan? You are pretty much among two types of people: self-absorbed suburban transplanted wannabe Park Ave types currently living or have lived at some point with 5 roommates in a 3 br apt in the UWS or the counter culture hipsters who will never be able to afford to buy and are always trying to differentiate themselves from their homogeneous group. If you see someone that doesnt fit this description then they dont live there, they just work or visit. No I am not the miserable individual envious of those with $, I have had a great career so far and am living very comfortably.

Manhattan has great cultural amenities, such as the museums, but Manhattanites (the ones who usually boast are not even native to this city) think that Manhattan is the only place on the globe with a downtown.

PS I feel sorry for all you wide eyed kids who think Manhattan is the end all for nightlife. First of all Europe and South America both party harder if you are looking to party the hardest. Second of all, bottle service is so corny. Third of all, this wack nightlife is open so late you have to wait till 3-4am to snatch a "friend" from the bar to take home, whereas in Philly or Boston you could have done that and caught some zzz's by 2am, which is a much more efficient way to live life. So whats so great about NY nightlife then?

To really sum it all up though, Manhattan is revenge of the nerds.

Originally Posted by SuperMario

Agreed. I would choose the outer boroughs over Manhattan everytime.

Totally agree. Southern Brooklyn and the East Bronx are about the only areas left between suburbia and suburbia/rural transplanted Manhattan.

[Guywithacause]

DITC...I don't think you are bitter, I think you just believe everything you hear or are ignorant to reality in this city. If you think living in Manhattan you are surrounded by those 2 groups you have been spending too much time in the UWS and reading the NY Times. Manhattan is still exceptionally diverse...how do I know? I have ventured to the lower east side bordering the housing projects...it still retains its grittiness and the infamous Nuyorican Poetry....still going strong. Then I have been to Washington Heights..which is CHOCK FULL of hundreds of THOUSANDS of Dominicans and other Latinos adding immense flavor to the city. Then you can hop down to CHINATOWN...which is where you will find tens of thousands of CHINESE and other Asians....not diverse enough for you yet? How about scooting back up to Harlem..where you will find the epicenter of Black culture that is STILL GOING STRONG and is alive and well. But we are not done yet.....scoot over Spanish Harlem...where you will find literally SWARMs of PRs, their music, restuarants, adn culture that is also ALIVE and well. Are we done yet? Nope...let's head back down to the Village where you will find the strong presense of "alternative lifestyle" peeps (aka homos, dykes, leather daddies, artsy types, etc) all mushed together and adding yet another flavor to the city...and yes the Village is alive and well also.

And that's just in Manhattan...venture out into the boroughs and diversity rules...your examples of Manhattanittes are laughable, ignorant, and baseless...unless of course you only spend time in UWS/UES. Your foolish attack on new residents of Manhattan, and your just plain WRONG picture of Manhattan and its residents, is based on nothing more than ignorance, stereotypes, and false information.

Maybe if you were a victim of violence, and not just getting your ipod stolen, you would feel more at ease about Manhattan being "real" and back to "normal?" If I were you I would move from this city..after all it is just "revenge of the nerds" to you right? Move on.

[DITC]

Originally Posted by Guywithacause

DITC...I don't think you are bitter, I think you just believe everything you hear or are ignorant to reality in this city. If you think living in Manhattan you are surrounded by those 2 groups you have been spending too much time in the UWS and reading the NY Times. Manhattan is still exceptionally diverse...how do I know? I have ventured to the lower east side bordering the housing projects...it still retains its grittiness and the infamous Nuyorican Poetry....still going strong. Then I have been to Washington Heights..which is CHOCK FULL of hundreds of THOUSANDS of Dominicans and other Latinos adding immense flavor to the city. Then you can hop down to CHINATOWN...which is where you will find tens of thousands of CHINESE and other Asians....not diverse enough for you yet? How about scooting back up to Harlem..where you will find the epicenter of Black culture that is STILL GOING STRONG and is alive and well. But we are not done yet.....scoot over Spanish Harlem...where you will find literally SWARMs of PRs, their music, restuarants, adn culture that is also ALIVE and well. Are we done yet? Nope...let's head back down to the Village where you will find the strong presense of "alternative lifestyle" peeps (aka homos, dykes, leather daddies, artsy types, etc) all mushed together and adding yet another flavor to the city...and yes the Village is alive and well also.

And that's just in Manhattan...venture out into the boroughs and diversity rules...your examples of Manhattanittes are laughable, ignorant, and baseless...unless of course you only spend time in UWS/UES. Your foolish attack on new residents of Manhattan, and your just plain WRONG picture of Manhattan and its residents, is based on nothing more than ignorance, stereotypes, and false information.

Maybe if you were a victim of violence, and not just getting your ipod stolen, you would feel more at ease about Manhattan being "real" and back to "normal?" If I were you I would move from this city..after all it is just "revenge of the nerds" to you right? Move on.

I should have been specific, I meant Manhattan below 96th/110th...but soon that will description be Manhattan below Dyckman lol.

I am not a victim of violence. I dont use an Ipod but if I did feel the need to listen to music in public I would bring my 1997 sony discman that works perfectly fine.
Have never lived in Manhattan although I can easily afford it, and will never live there. I am not close minded, I just know from my 913285 times of being on that island that living there is not my cup of tea.

Wake up pal, Harlem is dying. They are trying to rezone the place to become Times Square north. Do you not get the concept of stripping a place of its character? Its like the financial district without finance, hollywood without movies, the village without hipsters, etc. Makes no sense.

[Guywithacause]

You are confusing stripping a place of its character and making it a healthy, livable place. When these communities were struggling, and were crime filled horrendous places to live, the residents suffered immensely and people complaind "racism" and it was an "assault of black people." Now that there is investment in the community, and the areas are improving in leaps and bounds....you are complaining? You are claiming it is "dying"? Are you kidding? Harlem has not been this active, alive or livable in the past 30 years...unless by active you mean crime and thuggery.

Harlem is revitalizing and coming back to life.... and is becoming a place that is livable for EVERYONE, and not just the 3 generation welfare cases, criminals, thugs, and destitute. And as you pointed out...the Village was once a high crime area as well, but it has improved and the Hipsters and other "alternative lifestyle" folks thrived...the area did not die. Harlem is undergoing the same renaissance ..and the fact remains that Blacks are leading the way in reshaping Harlem and it is the Black middle and upper classes that are buying back into the area.

But of course...it's much easier to see white people walking down 125th and blame them for all the world's problems.