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I personally think the biggest problem facing New York today is it's failing middle class. Ever since the great suburban flight in the 50s and 60s the family population of the city has shrunken tremendously and has moved to Long Island, Jersey, and upstate New York. As compared to other great global cities like London and Tokyo who have large populations of children New York's family population is pretty small because of high rent and families thinking the city isn't "safe". I think if New York would build denser residential buildings the rent would dip lower and would attract more families to move into the city.
Families often want back yards, good schools, and with regards to many of the populations in the suburbs you described- people who come from similar ethnic backgrounds as they do.
The majority of NYs middle class who 'flew' were Irish, Italians, and Jews. The latter two have a history of segregating themselves.
New middle classes may arise in the Bronx and Brooklyn as the cultural respond to cleaning up a bit, as they are throughout the rest of the city.
That said, the disparity of wealth in this country, and this city- is the greatest issue any middle class can face in regards to housing and expenses. Similar to London and Tokyo though, being economic capitals of the world largely regulates New York- certainly Manhattan as a luxury city. There just happens to be far more subsidies for the working poor.
Families often want back yards, good schools, and with regards to many of the populations in the suburbs you described- people who come from similar ethnic backgrounds as they do.
The majority of NYs middle class who 'flew' were Irish, Italians, and Jews. The latter two have a history of segregating themselves.
New middle classes may arise in the Bronx and Brooklyn as the cultural respond to cleaning up a bit, as they are throughout the rest of the city.
That said, the disparity of wealth in this country, and this city- is the greatest issue any middle class can face in regards to housing and expenses. Similar to London and Tokyo though, being economic capitals of the world largely regulates New York- certainly Manhattan as a luxury city. There just happens to be far more subsidies for the working poor.
Well, people of all ethnic groups want yards, good schools, etc, and go for them if they can afford them.
I personally think the biggest problem facing New York today is it's failing middle class. Ever since the great suburban flight in the 50s and 60s the family population of the city has shrunken tremendously and has moved to Long Island, Jersey, and upstate New York. As compared to other great global cities like London and Tokyo who have large populations of children New York's family population is pretty small because of high rent and families thinking the city isn't "safe". I think if New York would build denser residential buildings the rent would dip lower and would attract more families to move into the city.
NYC middle class has shrunken again over the past decade. The current middle class decline is similar or on par with the white flight, plenty of the cities Black population and Hispanic middle as well as ethnic whites are leaving the city. Not good for the city future.
Need two things for middle class families -- good schools that don't cost an arm and a leg (and not just in a few areas), and housing which can hold more than two people that doesn't cost an arm, a leg, a head, the other arm, the leg, your soul, etc...
Have you been to either Tokyo or London???
Central Tokyo is *just* like NY Times Square / Midtown West (except cleaner and the trains *always* run on time).
While Tokyo proper has colleges similar to NY, it has few or none grade school in the city proper.
Same with London. London has tons of colleges, due to its history, within its city, but "affordable" grade school for the 99% of us? I think not.
Also, due to its shear size and $$$ flowing in, NYC will never and has never been "just" middle class.
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