Q&A
True cost of living measure and community feedback on costs
1:44:49
ยท
148 sec
Linda Tigani discusses the feedback CORE has received from community members regarding the cost of living in New York City. She highlights the challenges faced by residents in affording basic necessities and the importance of addressing these concerns in racial equity planning.
- CORE has not had the opportunity to give direct feedback on the development of a true cost of living measure
- Community members consistently report that New York City costs are too high
- CORE added a community equity priority specifically addressing the cost of food, transportation, and housing
- Residents emphasized the need to focus on affordability of basic necessities rather than 'high-quality' options
- Transportation costs, including subway fares and potential congestion pricing impacts, were highlighted as significant concerns
Nantasha M. Williams
1:44:49
Has CORE been given any opportunities to consult or give feedback on the development of a true cost of living measure?
Linda Tigani
1:44:58
We have not had the opportunity to give feedback.
1:45:02
We have been in conversation with MOERJ as well as some of our partners about the importance of the true cost of living.
1:45:11
We did alert MOERJ to the fact that many if not I would say all, I would go so far to say all of our respondents, all 4,212 respondents have said New York City costs are too high.
1:45:28
And for that reason, we added a community equity priority that specifically talked about the cost of food, transportation, and housing.
1:45:37
I do want to note that when we talked about the cost of living with community, we had originally talked about the cost of high quality food and we had community members across New York City saying to us, we're not at the point where we can talk about high quality food because we can't afford food, because our pantries are grocery marts.
1:46:02
And so when we're talking about the cost of living, our community members who are living check to check, who are just surviving, it's hard for them to hear us come in and talk about what do you need to thrive.
1:46:15
And because what they say to us is can you lower the cost of bread?
1:46:20
Can you lower the cost of fruit?
1:46:22
Can you make it so that supermarkets and the prices at supermarkets actually match what the neighborhood has with respect to their financial access to finances?
1:46:36
I also want to just uplift that people have raised the high cost of transportation and feeling that they have not heard New York City say enough that $2.90 is too high.
1:46:48
In the conversation of congestion pricing we have heard a lot about what that toll is, where that money is going, what's the impact on drivers, what have we heard about the cost of taking the train or the bus and the cost of the ticket if you are caught by NYPD for jumping the turnstile, that there's a very serious economic cost that as we have seen can cost some New Yorkers their lives.