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 [log in to unmask]