http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus News, culture and life in and around New York Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:38:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/news/2012/01/the-311-on-food-stamps-what-you-need-to-know/#comment-34523 Patricia G. Jones Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:38:16 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?p=34864#comment-34523 Thanks to this page, I have just learned that I am ineligible for food stamps because my petty Social Security payment ($1,508/month, less $100 for Medicare) is TOO MUCH. For anyone who lives in Manhattan -- and I have been in this apartment 22 years -- the amount of Social Security is a joke. I worked, mostly full-time, for 40 years. For a large part of that 40 years I was earning, on average, $40-50,000 a year. Now that I am old and in failing health, my rent (frozen by SCRIE, thank God, at $1029), plus utilities totalling about $400 (Con Edison, telephone, cable and internet), add up to about $20 MOLRE THAN WHAT I RECEIVE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY. If I didn't have a sister who was lucky enough to marry a rich man, I WOULD LITERALLY BE STARVING. I could give the proverbial tinker's damn about being fingerprinted -- I haven't done anything. But I can't be the only person in this situation. In my opinion, Solcial Security payments should be calculated on the basis of more realistic, LOCAL cost-of-living (I'm sure I could live reasonably well somewhere in Arkansas, but iin New York City the payment is a sick joke). Either that (or both), the top iincome limit should be raised to something more in line with reality. At the present limit, one would have to be receiving $1,180/month. Who can live on that in New York City? SERIOUSLY! Not everybody has a safety net like my sister (a well I have gone to far too often, and it's not all that deep to begin with). So does one give up a home of 20+ years? In my case, I would have to move completely out of my neighborhood, and probably out of the borough, where I would have no friends or connections at all. What a payback for 40 years of contributing to the Social Security system. Thanks to this page, I have just learned that I am ineligible for food stamps because my petty Social Security payment ($1,508/month, less $100 for Medicare) is TOO MUCH. For anyone who lives in Manhattan — and I have been in this apartment 22 years — the amount of Social Security is a joke. I worked, mostly full-time, for 40 years. For a large part of that 40 years I was earning, on average, $40-50,000 a year. Now that I am old and in failing health, my rent (frozen by SCRIE, thank God, at $1029), plus utilities totalling about $400 (Con Edison, telephone, cable and internet), add up to about $20 MOLRE THAN WHAT I RECEIVE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY. If I didn’t have a sister who was lucky enough to marry a rich man, I WOULD LITERALLY BE STARVING. I could give the proverbial tinker’s damn about being fingerprinted — I haven’t done anything. But I can’t be the only person in this situation. In my opinion, Solcial Security payments should be calculated on the basis of more realistic, LOCAL cost-of-living (I’m sure I could live reasonably well somewhere in Arkansas, but iin New York City the payment is a sick joke). Either that (or both), the top iincome limit should be raised to something more in line with reality. At the present limit, one would have to be receiving $1,180/month. Who can live on that in New York City? SERIOUSLY! Not everybody has a safety net like my sister (a well I have gone to far too often, and it’s not all that deep to begin with). So does one give up a home of 20+ years? In my case, I would have to move completely out of my neighborhood, and probably out of the borough, where I would have no friends or connections at all. What a payback for 40 years of contributing to the Social Security system.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/news/2012/01/op-ed-convention-center-mania-burdens-taxpayers/#comment-34517 Charles Ponzio Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:05:42 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?p=34132#comment-34517 What a well researched/written article. I live in Austin where two large convention center hotels are under construction. If we are 100,000 room rentals shy of the 300,000 target, then two more convention hotels mean...I'm just not smart enough to figure out this kind of math. What a well researched/written article. I live in Austin where two large convention center hotels are under construction. If we are 100,000 room rentals shy of the 300,000 target, then two more convention hotels mean…I’m just not smart enough to figure out this kind of math.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/metrolife/looking-up-to-look-back-the-fading-ads-of-new-york/#comment-34515 Pat Purdy Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:32:30 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?post_type=mf_metro_life&p=39016#comment-34515 As a kid, I remember on long drives with family through the country side viewing many barns advertising long forgotten products. Also loved the Burma shave signs. I still miss them. they were always good for a smile. As a kid, I remember on long drives with family through the country side viewing many barns advertising long forgotten products. Also loved the Burma shave signs. I still miss them. they were always good for a smile.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/metrolife/looking-up-to-look-back-the-fading-ads-of-new-york/#comment-34513 am estrad Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:11:01 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?post_type=mf_metro_life&p=39016#comment-34513 I too am fascinated by old ads on buildings. I wish much happiness to Frank Jump. Be strong and continued your great work. I too am fascinated by old ads on buildings. I wish much happiness to Frank Jump. Be strong and continued your great work.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/my-ny/fred-armisen-men-at-work/#comment-34504 Jayne Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:52:34 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?post_type=mf_my_nyc&p=39023#comment-34504 Um...ths sucks! Um…ths sucks!

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/news/2011/12/op-ed-the-fine-print-in-cuomos-tax-deal/#comment-34487 Joe Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:56:17 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?p=31017#comment-34487 The MTA Payroll Tax needed to be reduced because it was hurting businesses and the taxpayers in the Mid-Hudson Valley, where we barely even use the service. Why should we be paying for a service that not only does our area barely use, but do not even have equal say in its voting (0.25% for each of the four counties above the city and Westchester: Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam Counties), along with paying as much as everyone else in the city? It makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever. The MTA Payroll Tax needed to be reduced because it was hurting businesses and the taxpayers in the Mid-Hudson Valley, where we barely even use the service. Why should we be paying for a service that not only does our area barely use, but do not even have equal say in its voting (0.25% for each of the four counties above the city and Westchester: Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam Counties), along with paying as much as everyone else in the city? It makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/news/2011/08/storms-a-comin-are-you-ready-for-hurricane-irene/#comment-34486 http://harleydavidsonstickerssite.info/ Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:23:44 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?p=14374#comment-34486 Hello! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing! Hello! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/toolbox/the-big-chill-in-the-big-apple-how-to-beat-the-nyc-winter-blues/#comment-34377 taller de cocina en barcelona Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:35:16 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?post_type=mf_tool_box&p=34469#comment-34377 Woah this weblog is excellent i love studying your posts. Stay up the good work! You realize, a lot of people are searching around for this information, you can aid them greatly. Woah this weblog is excellent i love studying your posts. Stay up the good work! You realize, a lot of people are searching around for this information, you can aid them greatly.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/toolbox/app-city-new-york-at-your-fingertips/#comment-34212 arts Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:01:09 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?post_type=mf_tool_box&p=7171#comment-34212 Thank you for some other wonderful article. The place else could anybody get that type of information in such a perfect manner of writing? I've a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info. Thank you for some other wonderful article. The place else could anybody get that type of information in such a perfect manner of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.

]]> http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/metrolife/op-ed-my-neighborhood-white-supremacist-the-kosher-response-to-hate/#comment-34184 Carl Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:23:20 +0000 http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/?post_type=mf_metro_life&p=29009#comment-34184 lol @ you for thinking comments on a website require the attention of law enforcement, you must not understand free speech, saying stuff like you just said is why people hate jews, hate speech is free speech and if you don't like it then you can go catch the next train outta here lol @ you for thinking comments on a website require the attention of law enforcement, you must not understand free speech, saying stuff like you just said is why people hate jews, hate speech is free speech and if you don’t like it then you can go catch the next train outta here

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