Recent comments in /f/nyc

47mmAntiWankGun t1_jaek9wh wrote

Reply to How much is remote work worth? New York City is about to find out. by arrogant_ambassador

As a city worker who is celebrating the potential return of working from home (and who can absolutely perform their job from home), is everyone suddenly pretending that working from home doesn't have tangible value, or that it isn't worth that much? People who have the option of remote work have the option not to spend money on commutes in potentially health hazardous conditions, have the option not to spend 1-2 hours of their lives (if not more) on that commute, and don't have to make the choice between preparing lunch outside of work or paying extra for an LIC or Manhattan lunch. The very same people here who would probably say they'd leave if their office mandated a return to office turn to those denied that option and say that it's not worth all that much because (according to some of these posts) essential workers have the right to work paid overtime. Would you, in the same position, really trade the ability to work from home for the right to paid overtime?

There's an argument that compensating office-essential workers "creates two tiers of employees." Well, COVID already made clear there were two tiers; people who have the liberty to work from home and people who do not have that liberty; ergo, the people who faced real hazards to survive, and the people who clanged pots and pans for them at 7 pm but apparently won't condone the idea of pay commensurate with their conditions. And yes, even with COVID (mostly) gone, there are real hazards to commuting and working in the office: extra transportation costs, exposure to disease, crime, traffic, and commuter disruptions that can cost hourly workers their pay due to no fault of their own, plus the time lost spent with family, friends or themselves. There's a reason embassy US workers in Yemen are paid 35% more than their compatriots doing the same job in Switzerland; hazards and risk have a quantifiable value. We understand that costs of living might vary based on your living conditions (nevermind that commuting costs are part and parcel of cost of living calculations), and yet can't grasp that the risks and extra costs incurred by essential workers have a monetary cost? The fact is that Essential Workers (like all workers) don't want support, they want salaries commensurate with the dangers and costs. If the city's goal is to retain its shrinking municipal workforce, it should both allow remote work for those jobs that can allow it and provide additional incentives to sign up for jobs that don't, lest it be even more attractive to be a school administrator than a schoolteacher.

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bruhyouokay t1_jaeivrn wrote

Reply to comment by Jerund in Feds not coming to MTA’s rescue under GOP House, Schumer says by newzee1

and rent has gone up at a wildly disproportionate rate, as well as food and utility costs. have you seen what coned is charging lately? have you tried to buy eggs? it’s more expensive to live even if we’re making more money. of course the money has to come from somewhere but this is true of any public service that is provided “for free” (through taxes) to the public. ticketing people who can’t afford $2.75 is not an effective method of revenue and it fundamentally misconstrues the purpose of a public service.

edit because i hit send too fast lol: my overall point is that putting the mta’s budget crisis on its constituents won’t solve the problem and it isn’t really the issue in the first place.

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Jerund t1_jaei872 wrote

Reply to comment by bruhyouokay in Feds not coming to MTA’s rescue under GOP House, Schumer says by newzee1

Fare went up .50 cents (22%) since Bloomberg was in office. Median individual income went up by 26% since then. The rate of change is fairly proportional, so why can’t people afford to pay the fare? I mean it’s either those who use it pay for it partially or a tax on everyone to pay for it. You can say it should be free all you want, the money to fund it should come from somewhere.

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bruhyouokay t1_jaehfm0 wrote

Reply to comment by Jerund in Feds not coming to MTA’s rescue under GOP House, Schumer says by newzee1

there’s a pretty easy answer as to why fare evasion has increased since bloomberg, no? the wealth disparity between the rich and poor has vastly increased in the last few years. fewer people can afford the cost of a metrocard swipe so fare evasion increases. public transit is a public service and should be free.

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