There seems to be a large discrepancy between what people can earn in Manhattan versus what type of housing they can afford in Manhattan. According to the Department of Labor, the average minimum wage, as of December 31, 2013, was $8.00. According to the New York Times, as of January 18, 2013, the average Manhattan apartment costs $3,973 A MONTH.  The disparity of wages to housing expenses is exorbitant. It is not seemingly possible for a person working an average amount of hours per year, which is 2,088 hours to afford to live close to where they work in New York City. Based upon the national average, a New Yorker earning the minimum wage will only earn $16,704, BEFORE TAXES. This does not even take into account other cost of other living expenses, such as food, health care, transportation, clothing, or other miscellaneous expenses. Although New York has traditionally opened its doors to “…your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”, it will not be able to provide you with affordable housing or lifestyle

Instead of New York City being the gleaming city, that was once a symbol of freedom, opportunity and the American Dream—it has slowly been evolving into a more materialistic beast—one that does not make any provisions for those beloved low wage earners who keep the city productive and growing. The average apartment in the Bronx Costs $2258, in Queens it is $3449, in Brooklyn it is $3758, and lastly, in Staten Island it is $1888 a month. The exponentially increasing cost of living outpaces any minimum wage increase.  As a result, the disparity between the rich and the poor in the city continues to expand, and the working poor cannot live a decent, simple existence within the five boroughs.  New York City is certainly representative of a melting pot of religion, culture and ethnicity, but there is not the same representation in financial capability.  It seems to have become a city of haves and have-nots, even if the have-nots consist of hard working families trying to achieve a better life.  Have we outgrown our capacity to provide a decent standard of living for our own residents? And if so, shouldn’t we be thinking of how we can ensure that each person who contributes to our city can be able to live well enough to enjoy all that it has to offer? Maybe “breathing free” has become the only thing that most people can afford in NYC.

The Links to the articles can be found here:

New York State Labor Standards

The New York Times Article