Ben Sternman

Behavior

WNYC's Pledge Economic Indicator

As a long time listener and member I've heard a lot of membership drives, but I've noticed during this one that you're not asking for the dollar a day level of support. It seems expectations all over are lower.

Laura S

Employment

Absorbing hours

I have found since recent layoffs, more and more people who are still employed are working later hours! Working 60 + hours a week to keep your job is a source of chronic and relentless stress.

Valeen

Employment

Recession can help a small business with employee-flow

I am the owner of a small art education company, Private Picassos, and I am constantly looking for experienced, educated instructors to teach in my programs. Its usually extremely hard to find people who are talented and willing to work only a few hours a week. But with the recession and high unemployment rates, I have noticed more people reaching out to me and asking for part time work. Just yesterday I had an experienced NYU grad send me her resume out of the blue. If there is any silver lining to all the economic turmoil, then small businesses finding good, quality employees for small projects may be it.

179 Dahlgren Place Brooklyn, NY 11228

Rachel Somerstein

Commerce

Increased Drug Activity

I live in Central Harlem, about ten blocks from Central Park. I've been here for the past year and a half. The number of miniature zip lock bags, in which small doses of cocaine are sold, has increased dramatically. Where I used to see one or two every so often, I now see dozens of them, every day, discarded on my block.

In addition, I've witnessed two failed raids on a drug "house" across the street from mine over the past two months. It's worth mentioning that the brownstone down the block is on the market for $3.7 million -- though of course it hasn't sold.

107 west 120 street

roses

Bright

saving on cable/internet service

I have Time Warner cable and internet service. I called to inquire about downgrading my service. They offered to reduce my bill by approx $30/month...by only changing my high speed internet service to road-runner. I was told they wanted to keep me as a customer. Frankly, I may still look for a different provider if I can get a better deal elsewhere.

Susan

Behavior

Borders unshaven men

I took by daughter to read her some books at Borders (they have newer ones than our Public Library). She has no school this week or else I would not be there at 2 in the afternoon. It was quite busy but I noticed quite a few men mostly unshaven some in sweat pants, hair all disheveled. Borders and Barnes and Noble serve a purpose if only to keep people high on caffeine instead of into a bar -- maybe they should get a bail out as well. I also did notice that many of the kids hardcover books included a CD. Maybe to justify the $16 price tag

Paramus, NJ

Sarah Crofts

Commerce

Blank Billboards of the BQE

Blank white billboards dot the skyline along the BQE between the Hamilton Ave exit and the Belt Parkway exit.

BQE Sunset Park Brooklyn

Challen H. Armstrong

Employment

Loss of a viable income, underemployed

I am a dedicated NPR listener who loves your show. I was so glad that SOMEONE was talking about the disaster that is going on in employment.

I had a corporate job making 6 figures, with stock options, health insurance and a 401K plan. I have an MBA in Marketing. I was 55 when I lost my job due to 9/11. I spent 7 years trying to recapture the benefits I lost. Now I am a retail sales person making (fortunately) $10 per hour for 16-20 hours per week. I have no benefits, I could get fired without notice and I would not be able to get unemployment and I'm clearing around $300 per week. I had to take early SS benefits just to get SOME income to contribute to the family.
No, my ego isn't damaged, but my lifestyle has taken a huge hit.. You are not talking to people who have to support families or are underemployed relative to their skills.
I couldn't sustain myself economically if it weren't for my husband providing health benefits and most of the income that comes into this house. I know that others aren't as lucky as I am.

I know I couldn't get $10.00 per hour now...I just took a cut of $.50 per hour cut and kept my job, thank God. What happens to my intellect, my skills and the money that I would need if I were fully employed? Start asking those questions!

Alexander Rapaport

Behavior

A Different Kind of Bailout

53rd Street, 13th

alex

Employment

Get a Teaching Degree

Right now I'm in school for a Masters in Education at The City College of New York. It's a new program in Educational Theater. Other friends have gone to the similar NYU program and now find themselves having to pay off massive debt on a teacher's salary. My hope is that I'll not have the debt because of the low CUNY tuition, and that I'll be able to find work. We only started this program three semesters ago, and I now find more people inquiring about the degree. I jumped in on blind faith after working for arts organizations and theater education programs. I knew nothing about City College either. It's been good so far, and interesting to check out a new neighborhood for me (having grown up in Brooklyn my whole life). I work also for a non-profit doing theater workshops in a Bushwick elementary school, and am a sub teacher for the NYC DOE. While last year I worked 76 days as a sub, it seems schools are now calling less, or need to specifically nominate people to sub at their schools, a change from last year.

Teachers have always been conscious of their lower status on the income totem pole, and always bring their lunch to work. Some people have considered this work "Plan B" after this economy, but the teachers I know see it as Plan A.

I'm now student teaching in Park Slope at a Gifted and Talented Middle School theater program, which is a good example of a well-run and community-funded arts program.

At the same time, a recent meeting of student teachers at City College produced anxiety when someone mentioned the Governor's plan to cut 14,000 teachers from the payroll. I'm worried about the stimulus package not filtering down to NY State, then to NYC, then to the DOE, and then to any arts programs in the system. I plan to work my connections in the system, find out as much information as possible, and am going to consider another teaching license in ESL because there is usually higher demand for ESL then Theater.

Oh - my original goal was to make it as an actor and writer. :) Maybe this is Plan B...

138 Convent Avenue, New York, NY

Tony Davis

Commerce

UPS at Hyperspeed!

In November, I ordered a digital-to-analogue TV converter box from Amazon at the least expensive shipping rate---it arrived in two days.

Last week I ordered jeans and a small radio from L.L. Bean (least expensive shipping)---got the jeans in two days and the radio on the third!

Seems that UPS built a lot of capacity during the recent boom times and now goods really fly during the bust.

Adelphi Street, Fort Greene, Brooklyn

tara

Behavior

making new beginnings

During this recession, my job happened to burn to the ground on election night due to an electrical fire. Since then, I have lost my apartment and of course my job. Homeless and jobless for two months. Since then, I have also found a new apartment, a few temporary jobs, and a new boyfriend whom I met through one of the new jobs. These crazy times have brought me to my knees in despair,and at the same time have brought me new connections, new avenues, and new survival techniques which will prove invaluable in the future.
I am choosing to make the hard times work for me over bottles of 3 Buck Chuck and quitting smoking. I bought my first metro card and haven't taken a cab/car service in 3 months.

I listen to NPR every day and for the first time made it on air with my question for the Brian Lehrer show. That never would have happened if I had a job.

369 Menahan st #2R, Bushwick

Nancy C. Sampson

Commerce

HMO co-pay backup

A Manhattan doctor that I have been a patient of for nine years now wants patients who are paying for their copay with a credit or debit card to leave them a card imprint. They say the reason is because some of their patients have been unknowingly dropped from their health plans. Maybe this is due to the fact that when people are laid off they can't afford their COBRA payments?

Megan

Behavior

An Indicator of my Personal Fiscal Situation

I work as a freelance decorative painter and art installer, which involves working with my hands and physical labor. I knew I had been out of work for awhile when I gave myself a French manicure. My fingernails had recovered and grown to a length that they never do when I am regularly employed.

122 Tehama St. , Brooklyn, NY

Rodrigo

Commerce

not under $10

I'm finding take-out restaurants are not accepting credit cards anymore for purchases of under $10. I used to always pay with credit card rather than cash for all purchases because I like to accumulate points, but now I can't do this as often.

244 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036

Patricia Carano

Behavior

Images and feel good

I am the owner of a small Hair Salon in upper Westchester. Since the beginning of the economic crisis, we have been getting ourselves mentally prepared for a decline in business. We also speak to our staff , telling them now is the time to be the best at what you do--give the client 110% etc.

Our business has been increasing. We are considering hiring an additional hairstylist!!
I find it so odd to go from reading of the plight of so many, the hard times, foreclosures, to not a sense of it on my end. I am not bragging, but merely noticing what people are choosing to do to make themselves feel better. (Or ignore what they should do, and save?)

Gerald Lesk

Behavior

Crowded Museums

As people who love to go to the
Metropolitan, the Brooklyn and many of the other art museums in this city,
my wife and I have noticed over the
past few weekends an increased
attendance at all of these. I think this must be because fewer people
are going out of the city for weekends, and crowding the museums in stead.
A ski weekendin Vermont or a long weekend at a
Caribbean island are probably not
affordable by many of the people
who used to do these things.

sonia

Behavior

My plan B

I have a full time job as a graphic designer but I also have embraced the fact that I am a very good tarot reader! I have been reading cards steadily putting it out there that I do and it is helping me a lot!!!

Justin

Behavior

The Office Fridge

One of the things that tells me people are being more cautious with their dollars these days is the office refrigerator. A year ago, if you opened our office fridge you'd have seen a couple of cartons of milk, some various condiments and maybe someone's lean cuisine meal. Now, the fridge is bursting forth with a bizarre smorgasbord of leftovers, microwave meals, and ingredients for odd lunchtime combos. A testament to the times.

West 57th Street, New York, NY

Daniel Freedman

Commerce

Cheap Manhattan Hotles

Hotwire is offering a wide variety of four star Manhattan hotel rooms for $114 a night. This is a savings of 30-60%, and prices seem to drop every few days.