Well, what you describe in this reply is just what we are all talking
about. You basically confirmed all my assertions.  You don't have to live
in NYC to know that NYC is an extremely expensive place to live
particularly if one is not independently wealthy or earning a lot of money.
 While NYC is an interesting and stimulating place to live, a $25,000
yearly salary will force an individual to make hard choices about quality
of life and living arrangements.  This same $25,000 will go much farther in
many other cities- perhaps one could even rent a house, or a 2 bedroom
apartment in say Kansas City, or Richmond, VA.  The point here is that this
salary in the non-profit world in New York City is not a lot.  If this
organization is able to pay more for this type of position, then they
should do so, and not be cheap about it.  I am not trashing NYC, I have
enjoyed visiting on several occasions.  It's a great town.  Along with
others, I am trying to raise the issue of museum salaries being too low in
general.

----------
From:   Angela M. Washington[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Thursday, July 17, 1997 1:37 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: POSTINGS in NYC

At 12:49 PM 7/17/97 -0700, The Brooklyn Museum, Public Information Dept
wrote:

>Has anyone who responded actually ever lived in New York?
>
>You don't need to earn $70K to "live comfortably" (what does this mean,
>anyway?).  You don't have to live in Hell's Kitchen (which is not that
>bad an area).  Most people take the subway to work, not only because it's
>affordable but at 8 a.m. you're more likely to get to where you want to
>go more quickly than in a cab.  Not all meals cost $50 per person.
>
>Many many people I know live in Manhattan with incomes under $50K, under
>$30K even.  Anyone who is an actor, musician, artist, etc. lives this
>way.
>
>Where do you people get your information from?
>

OK. I do live in New York City.  No I don't live in Manhattan.  No, I don't
take cabs (trying to get one to go up to the Bronx is too much of an
ordeal).  No, I don't usually eat out.  No, you don't need an income of
$70K to 'live comfortably', but it wouldn't hurt.

The salaries at most institutions are just too low.  I've worked with
people in museums who live in Manhattan, and have had to supplement their
income with what they colorfully termed 'PLO' (Pocket Lining Outside), or
have a spouse/lover/friend/relative that also works (usually in a higher
paying job in the for-profit arena) to help pay the bills.  I actually left
a job that I liked as an Administrative Assistant at the Met for a
higher-paying one on the same level at NYU, and I *still* can't get an
apartment!  And of course, Real Estate agents are pretty loose with what
they term an 'apartment', so something in my price range might not actually
be an apartment fit for living in.

Angela Washington
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