Economy/Work/Labor

East Harlem: A look into its economic profile.

ITALIAN HARLEM (1890s-1930s)

SPANISH HARLEM (El Barrio) (1930s-today)

EAST HARLEM TODAY:

Recently, the population of East Harlem has drastically decreased, which has effect the vitality and potential for local business. However, neighborhood business activity characterizes most of East Harlem industry. The major retailing areas are located in within a block of each subway station, and along East 116th Street between Park and Second Avenues (pictured below), and on Third Avenue from East 102nd to East 124th Streets.

Pathmark- A major supermarket located on East 125th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, which has a lot of value to the local citizens. The 50,000 square foot Pathmark supermarket may spur revitalization on the eastern end of 125th Street.

East 116th street was East Harlem's only Middle Class district (in opposition to the working class population who lived in Tenements). Once known as "Doctor's Row" to the inhabitants of Italian Harlem during the early 20th century, it was the main area of residence for professional workers in the community. Now, in Spanish Harlem, it is a lively street to shop.

Today, activity in the district is also flourished by the health care institutions which provides over 15,000 jobs for the community, while approximately 1,000 total employers provide jobs for over 21,000 workers.

In the following charts, a review of these jobs is shown:

However, despite the amount of jobs provided by health care services, jobs are still desperately needed for the workforce.

East Harlem Income Level and Economy rates in the recent decade:

Economy	East Harlem	United States
Unemployment rate	10.30%	10.20%
Income< 15K	41.27%	12.48%
Recent Job growth	-3.59%	-4.06%

Harlem’s Underground Economy
Another important aspect of East Harlem is its “off the books” underground economy. Below is an excerpt from Philippe Bourgois’ In Search of Respect:

By the 1970s, many migrants had obtained jobs in the manufacturing business, but the exodus of manufacturers from the US to other countries (in order to obtain cheap labor, tax breaks, etc.) left million of workers without jobs. The status of the economy, combined with racism, eventually led to the deterioration of the East Harlem area. During this time, the median income for Puerto Ricans in Spanish Harlem was $14,000 less than for whites. The poverty rate was almost 40% and, as a result, more than half the population should not have been able to meet subsistence requirements, if it were not for the underground economy.

For men, this often involved repair work or drug dealing. Drug dealing was a huge part of East Harlem’s street culture, because it allowed dealers to make cash, fast. For women, they largely worked as babysitters or as seamstresses.

Time line of important events:
(add any events you need to, we can rework descriptions later)