I keep reading about the squeeze on the "middle class" & how its slowly dissappearing, but have yet to here the several causes for it. Who & why is putting this squeeze. Nor have I heard what if anything the gov't intends to do to protect this class of people -- as weel as those below them. As a former working middle class member of society, who became physically disabled, then displaced from the L.E. S. due to "Gentrification," thus not only becoming a low income class, but have gone down to being very low income. Once this happens, society has a tendency to forget U, as do the politicians that promise to help the poor with housing etc. during their campaign speeches. I'm by bo means a conspiracy theorist fanatic, but do the New Yorkers of ole, seriously think that what's been happening to the middle class in NYC has happened by chance ? Mind U -- for those who know, the gentrification of the L.E.S., was pre-planned. And, since those in the neighboring districts/boroughs felt it did not concern them, they kept going as though nothing was happening. But, now we see that the move has been made to all areas in the city & thus affecting all middle class people & of course those below them. And, unless the government, who has sworn to protect the rights of the working little person -- so to speak, take the appropiate action, there's no telling what's to become of us. Clearly those who are able to, must start making those who represent us, accountable for what is going on and for what is not being done to resolve this clear & present threat to us.

Clearly amendments to housing laws must be made; so as not only to restrict landlords from raising rents at enormous hights, but also to ensure that gov't subsidies be honored by landlords and/or their managing agencies.

And of course, officials must start listening to the Drum Major Institute -- & its ideas, as it pertains to this serious issue.
E.Soto In Manhattan. 4/17/07

Thanks E. Sot for supporting the paper. I worked with an LES group at one point, you have some great organizers over there. Thank you for sharing your story with us. We hope that the findings from the survey show that there are solutions to the crisis the city is in. Policy allowed this crisis to occure and policy can change to save the city.