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HIV/AIDS patients in NYC forced to choose between paying for rent or basic needs

Allen Houston — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:57:12 +0000

Wanda Hernandez is one of many New Yorkers with HIV struggling to pay rent and for basic needs. Bess Adler, Metro

Every month, Wanda Hernandez considers whether to use her cash for bills, rent or possibly medical care.

Having lived for 15 years with HIV, Hernandez, 50, has chronic pain blocking her from work. But the largest chunk of her disability assistance goes toward the $1,000 rent for her 1-bedroom in the Bronx, near Arthur Avenue.

“I have to choose between paying my Con Ed or my rent, basically,” she told Metro.

She is one of many HIV patients who use have to use more than 70 percent of their disability income on rent, according to a new study by VOCAL-NY, which helps people with HIV/AIDS, and the Urban Justice Center’s Community Development Project.

As a result, thousands become homeless, unable to afford rent checks, the Friday report said.

Study organizers say that a state bill would protect them by ensuring they pay no more than 30 percent of their disability income toward affordable housing rent.

In the study, more than two-thirds of people said they decided between rent and necessities like medical care in the six months before losing their apartment.

And one in three struggled to pay medical expenses, the study revealed.

“Those living with HIV/AIDS should not have to choose between their medication and housing,” Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez said.

After rent, Hernandez has about $340 monthly, she said, or about $12 a day — scraped together for food, utilities and unexpected expenses like recently dropping her phone in the toilet.

She can’t get to her medical appointments sometimes because she can’t afford the Metrocard.

Con Ed shut off her lights last week, she said, and she faces a hearing Tuesday about possible eviction.

“I am very petrified,” she said. “I don’t know what the outcome is going to be.”

Before, she worked two places, going from an administrative assistant position to a bar job at night. Now, she is not sure how to move forward.

“I haven’t broken down yet,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that I’m superwoman, but I do have my point, when I break down.”

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Stuy Town residents consider rent strike: report

Alison Bowen — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:31:23 +0000

Stuy Town (Photo by Emily Anne Epstein)

Some Stuy Town residents are considering a rent strike after they say their rent was increased before their leases expire.

According to NY1, about 1,300 residents of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village are upset because they recently received a notice upping their rent.

Some of the residents’ rent will jump past one thousand dollars, according to NY1.

This news comes after a lawsuit was settled about apartments being stripped of rent stabilization.

“Effectively it’s an eviction notice,” one resident told the news station.

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Stuy Town residents file rent reduction claim

Jesse Greenspan — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 20:05:14 +0000

A view of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village, whose residents are seeking a rent reduction for services lost in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Residents of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village are seeking a rent reduction for services lost in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

According to the tenants association for the massive East Side Manhattan apartment complex, an assortment of laundry rooms, elevators, intercoms and bicycle storage facilities remain unusable more than three months after the storm.

As a result, the association has decided to file a claim with the state’s Division of Homes and Community Renewal.

“People have been extremely patient,” City Council member Dan Garodnick, a Peter Cooper resident, said Friday in a statement. “Restoring basic services has taken much longer than anyone could have expected. While work is ongoing, residents should not be forced to pay for services that they are not getting.”

A spokesman for CWCapital Asset Management, which runs the site on behalf of investors, could not be reached Sunday for comment.

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Timeshare Backyard in Lower East Side available for rent

Metro Archive — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:47:05 +0000

Craving a little green space? Wish you could host a BBQ, but your rickety fire escape just won’t cut it?

New Yorkers can take refuge in a lush backyard available for rent on the Lower East Side for the second summer in a row. The Timeshare Backyard, on Ludlow Street between Orchard and Rivington, is available to rent through for $100 per hour with a minimum rental of two hours for Saturdays and Sundays, though weekday rates are available, too. The space is owned by Misrahi Reality and rented by the Participation Agency, a marketing company.

The outdoor space can hold up to 30 people, and comes equipped for your enjoyment with a BBQ grill, hammocks, lounge chairs, squirt guns, hoola hoops, sun umbrellas, picnic benches and “trashy mags.” There is also a restroom on-site (score!).

“It was a huge hit,” Participation Agency co-owner Jessica Resler told Metro. “We thought originally when we first rented it out, maybe 100 people would be interested, but we actually sold out the space.”

Once again available this summer, Timeshare Backyard is popular among groups of friends hosting picnics or summer parties. Though no one has yet rented the space for a wedding, it has been the site of one very New York proposal.

“Someone proposed to their girlfriend in the space,” Resler said. “He wrote ‘Will You Marry Me?’ on the wall in paint and it’s still there.”

Timeshare Backyard is available for rent beginning July 14, but several slots are already reserved. You can purchase your timeshare directly on the Participation Agency’s website.

Summer in the city just got a little sweeter. Take that, Hamptons!

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More New Yorkers spending half their income on rent

Metro Archive — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:28:02 +0000

New Yorkers are forced to reach even deeper into their pockets to shell out cash for higher rents, according to a new study.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, 29 percent of households in the city now spend at least half of their income on their rents. That’s up from 26 percent in 2008.

Meanwhile, the cost of rent has also jumped to $1,100 per month from the median cost of $950 in 2008, according to Community Service Society.

NYC’s Rent Guidelines Board will vote tomorrow on whether to increase the cost of rent-stabilized apartments in the city. The price increase could be between 1.75 and 6.75 percent for New York’s one million rent-stabilized units.

“In this downturn, people’s incomes have gone down, but it’s not like their expenses are going down,” Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future, told the WSJ. “In a lot of other downturns, New York often trailed the rest of the country in the recovery. Now New York has as many or more jobs than other places in the country, so people may be hanging on.”

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Tiny Manhattan: Who says bigger is better?

Metro Archive — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:34:33 +0000

It’s no secret that I love New York, and like most others, I’ve made my own personal sacrifices to live here. But do I love this city enough to live in a closet? I am not referring to my current apartment, which by New York standards is large at 825 square feet. I am talking about the extreme and absurd, and walking outside to change my mind. How priceless is space in Manhattan?

My gauge for judgment was always based on a sofa. If I can’t get a sofa in the room, I can’t live there. Two sofas comfortably fit in my current apartment, which is one of the features that sealed the deal.

During the search, we started with a wish list like all other home-buyers. Of course we wanted a real two bedroom with two baths if at all possible. This would enable us to host the occasional guest couple or family member from out of town, and also give us another closet or two to house our ever-expanding shoe collection.

This wish list diminished quickly. I realized a true two bedroom in an elevator building in Manhattan was nothing more than a pipe dream. Unless I had a million dollars, or was willing to sell a kidney, a one-bedroom apartment was looking better and better.

So, I did what every other New Yorker does who cannot afford a more space—built a wall and made one. The little room is quaint, cozy, and large enough for a single bed, one guest and a small piece of luggage. But when two or more guests come into town, a bargain-priced hotel is in order.

A few months ago, my family visited for a couple of days. Rather than book the usual tourist hotel in congested and maddening Times Square, they opted for the Belnord at 87th and Broadway instead. The rate was excellent, and the building charming enough, despite the small rooms. Besides, who stays in their hotel room when visiting Manhattan?

I warned my relatives ahead of time. I said it would be tiny. Since they had never stayed in a boutique hotel before, they were shocked. Apparently, a person could sit on the toilet and shower at the same time—an ideal example of efficient space planning, and a timesaving design. The closet consisted of an 18” wide bar in front of the bed at waist level, and fit approximately four garments. It was installed underneath the 19” wall-mounted, flat-screen TV. Technically, there was a television in the closet.

Shortly after check-in, they left to explore the city, but eventually, they returned to the itty-bitty room, with the ittier-bittier closet and the shoilet.

I checked out the 8X8 space myself, and it was far too compact for two adults, or everyday living for one. But for the business traveler or single person who spends little time inside, the Belnord is a clean alternative in a convenient, yet quiet location.

As a city slicker, I’ve adapted to less. Adjusting to life in 2.5 rooms was easier than expected; now I actually prefer my little abode to the 2,800 square foot sprawl I owned in Atlanta. But when it comes to real estate, how small is too small?

On West 70th Street, there’s a tiny brownstone apartment where a single woman lived for years. In less than 100 square feet including the bathroom, Felice Cohen managed to stay organized and live comfortably in a space not much bigger than the average bathroom. She didn’t seem to mind that her knees hit the toilet, or that she couldn’t sit up in bed, or cook a meal.

For a professional organizer who travels, 90 square feet may be more than enough for a pad in the Big Apple.

When I imagine myself in the same situation—that of the single girl who wants to live simply, loves to travel, and has the most exciting city outside her door, I ask the question, “Could I live in a closet?”

Without a doubt, I love New York. If it came down to living in less than 100 square feet or not living in Manhattan at all, there is only one solution. I probably didn’t need that sofa anyway.

Bigger isn’t always better. In Manhattan, some gems are too tiny to notice, yet too fantastic to miss. Certain spots maximize the little amount of real estate they have. Think they’re undersized? Think again. If you can stand the squeeze, these smaller than usual treasures are worth trying.

Nook Restaurant
746 Ninth Avenue between 50th & 51st Streets, Hell’s Kitchen
Tiny 20-seat café with somewhat limited menu, but fresh, delicious food & BYOB (yes that’s bring your own booze) with no corkage fee. The unisex bathroom is in the kitchen. All quirks aside, it’s one of my favorite, intimate New York dining experiences.

Laura Lobdell
83 1/8 West 10th Street, Village
Artisan jewelry boutique sells pieces inspired by everyday objects including champagne rings, guitar picks, pull-tabs and more. Teenie canine companion Xiao greets customers as they enter the creatively decorated eighth of a store.

Biddy’s Pub
301 East 91st Street, Yorkville
An authentic Irish pub off Second Avenue with a small bar, about six tables, and a dartboard, Biddy’s attracts a no-nonsense crowd. Bartenders are always friendly, and patrons are usually local. With no room for a kitchen, order delivery from any of the surrounding restaurants in the hood. Biddy won’t mind.

Westsider Rare & Used Books
2246 Broadway between 80th & 81st Streets, Upper West Side
Specializing in fiction, literature, art, architecture, children’s books and more, Westsider buys, sells and trades. An Uptown fixture, they stay open late most every night.

Viand Coffee Shop
673 Madison Avenue @ 61st Street, Upper East Side
This old New York haunt with terrific diner food, slightly abrupt service, and loads of character in the middle of hoity toity Madison Avenue never disappoints.

Abraco Espresso
86 East 7th Street, East Village
Quaint cafe located in the hip East Village serving coffees, homemade plates, and pastries beyond the expected for a neighborhood joint.

Abraco Espresso

For more about life in New York, follow me on Twitter, or on Tracy’s New York Life.

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When college can’t cut it: What it takes to get a job

Metro Archive — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:15:36 +0000

As a former professor, Amanda Krauss knows what a college degree can do for you. But just as importantly, she knows what it can’t. “Being a professor, I saw how many people came to college not knowing why they were there, with this expectation that they would somehow be given a job,” she says. “Because that’s the idea, right? But there isn’t this correlation anymore, this neat equation of education equals job.”

Krauss found this out the hard way when she left her position as a classics professor at Vanderbilt to pursue a career in technology.

She blogs about her experiences in higher ed and the outside world at WorstProfessorEver.com. We caught up with her for some tips on landing a job, with or without a diploma.

Know how to discuss coursework

There’s nothing wrong with taking a varied, liberal arts-heavy courseload — but be prepared to explain how these classes translate into job skills. “There’s a lot of resistance at the higher level by people who don’t want to turn college into vocational school,” says Krauss. “If you want to study poetry, that’s fine; but make sure you know how to present that to an employer.”

Join professional organizations
No matter your education level, it’s important to stay current in your prospective field of employment. “Conferences and professional organizations are one of the universals of professional development,” says Krauss. “It’s where you learn about the most current trends in your field.” And then, of course, list these babies on your current, relevant résumé.

Think twice about a master’s

An undergrad degree in linguistics that you don’t know how to use? That’s a forgivable move, and your university shares some of the murky guilt. But the old “wrong me once” adage applies to poorly thought-out master’s degrees.

After leaving Vanderbilt, Krauss discovered that advanced degrees weren’t always an asset when job-hunting in new fields. “An advanced degree scares people if you’re not in higher ed. A lot of the time, employers think: ‘Why would you want to do this?’”

Follow Monica Weymouth on Twitter @MonicaatMetro.

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Raising the cap on rent-stabilized units?

Metro Archive — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:38:35 +0000

Rent for an estimated 3 million New Yorkers could change for the better this June, when the New York City rent laws are set to expire.

About 1 million apartments citywide are rent-stabilized, meaning landlords can only raise the rent by a certain percent each year. According to state law, apartments lose coveted rent-stabilized status and convert to market rate once they are either vacated and renovated, or reach $2,000 a month.

That $2,000 threshold was set in 1993 and expires on June 15.

And now, for the first time in more than a decade, a powerful real estate lobbying group said they would consider raising the cap higher.

“If someone has an argument to make, we’ll take a look,” said Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York. “We believe the laws work.”

Prospect Heights resident Mariel Villere, 24, is one of the lucky New Yorkers who found a rent-stabilized apartment.

Villere, a freelance architecture consultant, pays $1,725 for her stabilized 2-bedroom apartment.

“Being my age, it’s a really nice perk,” she said.

Follow Emily Anne Epstein on Twitter at @EmilyatMetro.

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