This week’s readings were mainly about tech companies in Brooklyn. The rezoning plan in Sunset Park illustrated the possible risks of rezoning industrial areas for more expensive and white collar establishments. The large latino/asian community on the waterfront is at risk of being put out of their jobs if this plan is approved. The community board of Sunset Park has responded to this plan with a resounding no because they realize how it will affect the community. The other two articles explained the new tech industry that is budding in Brooklyn. The Ferguson textile company that is now based in Brooklyn is interesting because it provides training for workers so that they may obtain skills that will help them gain higher earning jobs in the future. They were also getting paid a much higher wage than most textile workers at $10-$15 an hour. The tech triangle also did something similar to this in providing training for unskilled workers to work as film production assistants. One company stated that they had hired about 120 people in the last year. They did not state what type of positions were filled by these new employees but it is important to note the creation of jobs that this one company had. All of this has made me a tech-optimist in the sense that there are jobs being created and that some companies do want to contribute to the community and help unskilled workers earn a living wage. However with regards to the situation with Sunset Park, I still consider myself a tech-pessimist. We could be looking at a future in which most of the city’s unskilled workers are having to commute long distances to get to work because the city is simply not affordable. Although it is good that these companies are trying to reach out to unskilled worker to ensure they have a future in the industry I believe that they should also take into consideration that when they move into a neighborhood at an affordable price for them, they might be displacing one of those same workers they want to help. It is a tough issue to completely take a stand on since it has so many different faces, I am hoping that the trip to civic hall will help dispel some of my reservations about the tech economy in New York
Natalia, you have made a good, nuanced analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the growth of new economy jobs. It’s not productive to hire people who will have to move farther away from the work place–especially because the developers of Industry City are proud that a majority of the workforce there walks or bikes to work. I wonder if Civic Hall made you feel more optimistic about the future of a digital economy???