DMI Blog

Elana Levin

Letter to the Editor of the Week! (already)

So early in the week but sometimes it just hits the nail on the head so well.

Last week's New York Times ran the good news that "New York City will offer housing subsidies of up to $14,600 to entice new math, science and special education teachers to work in the city's most challenging schools, in one of the most aggressive housing incentive programs in the nation to address a chronic shortage of qualified educators in these specialties."

Given the cost of living in the City and in so many other cities this sounds like a great idea. But letter writer Laura Greenberg of NYC points out a darker implication that is always staring us in the face.

Laura Greenberg, I salute you
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To the Editor:

Your April 20 editorial "The Teacher Subsidy" says, "The subsidy sends the important signal that the city is dedicated to attracting the best teachers and improving its schools."

The subsidy also sends the important signal that real estate developers are making it impossible for workers and professionals to find affordable housing in the city that needs them.

Laura Greenberg
New York, April 20, 2006
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Posted at 9:51 AM, Apr 24, 2006 in Cities | Economy | Education | Housing | Letter To The Editor of the Week | Middle-class squeeze | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)


Comments

It's not so much an implication; it's explicit. But it does beg the question why very few can find affordable housing. When the Democrats, Shel Silver in particular -- but the rest went along, allowed rent regulation to be decimated, pretty much any rent protections were lost. What little remains on the books is subject to the 'no enforcement' policies of DHCR and Housing Court. Wonder why Vito Lopez hasn't lifted a finger on this, eh?

But developers do it because they can. When the elected officials and progressive groups roll over for developers, they will take what they can. Don't blame them; they're in business to make a profit. Blame those who could stop it, and aren't doing so. When some groups promote the tower-in-every-back-yard agenda under the guise of give-us-a-few-crumbs, developers are just loving it.

Posted by: Anonymous | April 24, 2006 12:13 PM