Chapter 3 of Norman Street focuses on the various sources of income of the population of the poor working class in Greenpoint-Williamsburg during the 1970s. Some obtained jobs working in factories or doing construction, maintenance, or secretarial work. Others enlisted in the military or gained public assistance. Each of these sources of income had an immense impact on family and household structures as well as the quality of life of the citizens of Greenpoint-Williamsburg.
Those who were employed lived highly unstable lives due to the frequency of employees getting laid off or fired. Jobs became a temporary and insecure form of income and even those who remained employed earned low wages and worked under poor conditions. Although jobs working under a union tended to be more stable, they were difficult to obtain. Due to the unpredictability of local factory jobs as well as their unsatisfactory pay and conditions, many people found other sources of income to be preferable options.
Men who chose to enlist in the army often did so in order to earn a stipend for their families. Other benefits included refunds for any medical expenses and discounts at the commissary. Men who enlisted began to marry their girlfriends so they may receive the stipend to support their family. Women who felt insecure supporting children on their own while their husbands were away tended to move in with other members of the family. Wives also lived in fear of disobeying any regulations that may cause them to lose their stipend. Families with members in the military were forced to live under its command.
The CETA program began as a way to provide more job opportunities and was offered in Greenpoint-Williamsburg starting in 1975. Disadvantaged workers under the CETA program often received lower wages than employees who were rehired after being laid off. Despite the low pay, citizens of Greenpoint-Williamsburg didn’t protest CETA, likely because they greatly valued any opportunity for employment. The Greenpoint-Williamsburg Council was in charge of the distribution of CETA jobs in the area. Due to the influence of political factions in the council, the earning of job positions depended largely on political opinions. The CETA program also influenced household structure of citizens in Greenpoint-Williamsburg. Women who had previously only done community work earned positions in the program and became independent from their husbands. The standard of living was raised as women left husbands and children left their parents to find their own apartments. Childcare also became a necessity as parents had longer workdays. Despite the low pay and requirement of political favors, CETA jobs were far more desirable than the burdens of factory work, military enlistment, and public assistance for citizens of Greenpoint-Williamsburg.
