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Uncommon Economic Indicators

The Brian Lehrer Show's online and on air collaborative project on the economy

Ride to Preschool

Story submitted by: Amy

Friday, January 30 2009

Bay Shore LIRR, Railroad Plaza @ Park Avenue & Oak Street, Bay Shore NY 11706 Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 420 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

School year 2006-2007 I drove my daughter from my home near the LIRR station in Bay Shore, LI (across from Fire Island) all the way to Garden City (central Nassau), heading west toward the city in the height of rush hour, for preschool four mornings a week. Crazy, I know, but Grandma teaches there and has for almost 30 years. It took us at least an hour. Most days were horribly stressful, rolling to school, stuck behind accidents, dodging aggressive drivers, white knuckling it through total chaos. She was late a few times even when we started leaving home extra early and once missed school entirely because of traffic. Now I drive my son there four mornings a week. Same distance, direction and time of the morning. It takes us only about a half hour now. We get there early. The ride is pleasant. I can listen to NPR and not honking. Good for me, but where did everybody go?

My new budget

Story submitted by: Sandy

Friday, January 30 2009

125th Street and Broadway

I have a pretty secure job, but it doesn't pay much, so I add to my income by tutoring at home. I took home the same income in 2007 and 2008; previously, I took home about 5% more each year. Of course, that unchanged income wasn't worth as much in 2008 as it was in 2007, and it will probably be worth less in 2009. I've stopped taking taxis, even if it means I'm late; I've noticed the subways are fuller on off hours. I can't remember the last time I spent more than $10 in a restaurant; I'm embarrased to say I occasionally eat in McDonald's, which is awfully full of equally embarrassed, well-dressed people. My grocery bill is lower; I’m buying fewer packaged foods and less meat. I’ve cut my acupuncture sessions, to the detriment of my asthma. I'm still making my bills, but there's no extra for fun, and nothing left over at the end of the month. I know many people have lost their jobs, and I'm lucky to have one, but I always feel anxious. I really want to work for myself, but now it doesn’t look possible. Hold on, and hope for change.

More Groceries, Less Cabs

Story submitted by: Chris

Friday, January 30 2009

West 110th Street and Broadway New York, NY 10025

I live in Morningside Heights. Westside market (always busy) is even busier. Even on Friday and Saturday nights! More people staying in...girlfriend and I take lunch to work every single day and have maybe taken 5 cabs in the past 6 months - total.

smashed-glass index

Story submitted by: jon

Friday, January 30 2009

started to notice shattered glass from car-window break-ins on my block, in brooklyn zip 11201 in the summer of 06 (!), after an absence of maybe 6-8 years.

No rice

Story submitted by: Igor

Friday, January 30 2009

I went down to the shishkebab place on my corner in south Brooklyn the other day. They said they were out of rice. What is this, the Soviet Union?

Recession retreat

Story submitted by: Beth

Friday, January 30 2009

Swale Road Norwalk, CT

As a way to brainstorm about career choices, I took a 2 day "recession retreat" in my living room.
First I built a fire, then lit all the candles in the living room, surrounded by my favorite inspirational reading material. Countless pots of tea later, I had several excellent ideas written in my journal which I'm getting ready to pounce on.

The Team Enters...

Story submitted by: Russell

Friday, January 30 2009

For a couple of years I've been slowly creating an absurdist narrative loosely based on A Pilgrim's Progress and the crumbling economy around us.

Food Truck Mitosis

Story submitted by: Mark Schwartz

Friday, January 30 2009

111 8th ave New York, NY 10011

I work in Chelsea, and what used to be one halal meat truck on 9th Ave for construction workers has morphed into three: a guy on 8th and now a taco truck on 14th St. And it's not just construction workers on line; bank and tech folks from the Port Authority Bldg are taking advantage of cheap lunch.

Bud Boycot

Story submitted by: jmpendley

Friday, January 30 2009

Speaking of Bud.
is this boycott for real ?

http://weirdnews.about.com/b/2009/01/30/super-bowl-beer-boycott.htm

Police Departments as Profit Centers

Story submitted by: Lisa

Friday, January 30 2009

Darien, CT

I commute through several towns in Fairfield County daily. In the past few months, the towns are all publishing news of property and business tax revenues plummeting, budget shortfalls, and employee layoffs.

I've seen a distinct difference in my commute, in the form of Police setting up speed traps. I used to pass perhaps 1 car pulled over by a cop per week. Now I regularly pass 2 or 3 per day. It appears the towns are pumping up citation revenues at a speedy clip!

An informal survey of my commuting friends shows they noticed this too.

Good Deals Get Done

Story submitted by: Peterson

Friday, January 30 2009

We just raised $2mm in venture capital for a blogosphere-related business. There's still a lot of investment money available for the right deals.

When a your lawyer asks you to join a pyramid scheme

Story submitted by: Cita Carnival

Friday, January 30 2009

Chinatown, Manhatten

Chinatown, NY- My father recently married a woman from mainland China. He has an attorney to do the paperwork. Due to all the reasons you can think of, his business is in trouble. He is having trouble paying all the expenses. So, his attorney kept him in the office for 7 hours explaining this pyramid scheme to him. When he said he did not have enough money to go to Florida to listen to the pitch, she offered to pay for his trip. Please be ware of all get rich quick schemes!

Homes for Sale

Story submitted by: Jax

Friday, January 30 2009

120-55 Queens Boulevard Kew Gardes, Queens 11424

The New Depression--toxic mortgages are the eye of the economic storm.

Positive renunciation

Story submitted by: Jabez L. Van Cleef

Thursday, January 29 2009

20 Pine Ave. Madison, NJ 07940

I have found a new truth in the cogitations of medieval anchorites, which tell us that we must leave aside the pleasures of worldliness and find meaning in perfect humility. (see advice on bulletin board)

The Oak and the Iris

Story submitted by: Bryan

Thursday, January 29 2009

151 East 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218

The Oak and the Iris is a cozy little cafe right off the F in Kensington that just recently opened up. The food is relatively cheap and delicious, and on Sunday nights, they have an open mic night! It's a great new addition to the neighborhood.

Movin' On Up Smackdown

Story submitted by: Patrick

Thursday, January 29 2009

Vanderbilt Ave Brooklyn

Myself and a co-worker were laid off last week and my boyfriend's firm laid off a dozen people. My boyfriend and I noticed that like us, everyone laid off was in their 40s.

After spending two decades working 50-hr weeks and sacrificing to get ahead in the company we finally reached a point where we don't have to worry how were we would make this month's rent. We make less than $100K, but can live comfortably; no more skipping meals in order to afford a new pair of shoes and we can take a modest trip during that meager 2 week vacation we get.

I was told that I was being laid off because I was paid, "so much more" than other people in my department.

My twenty years of dedicated hard work and institutional experience mean nothing when companies can pay some 20-something (who's willing to work long hours without pay to "get ahead") $20K less than those of us 20 years older.

That supposed $20K saved from eliminating my position isn’t going to stop the company from going bankrupt; its simply going to be portion of some executive’s bonus.

Executives never sacrifice anything but those below them.

Fairway to the Rescue!

Story submitted by: Alex Villari

Thursday, January 29 2009

268 Berkeley Place, Brooklyn NY 11217

My wife live by Grand Army Plaza in Park Slope. One of our favorite pastimes is shopping at Fairway in Red Hook. With the economy in the tank, there is now more reason to stock up on yummy food from Fairway and cook yummy home prepared meals. When we don't have time to cook, we stock up on their amazing prepared foods. Their roast chicken with two sides is just $8.00! Of course, when we shop there, we time it so we have to indulge in breakfast or lunch at their counter service and hang out by the NY Harbor. All this pigging out and we are still saving more money than if we had take out or ate out!

Trade Association Seeing More Unemployed at Meetings

Story submitted by: Bruce Bernstein

Thursday, January 29 2009

23 E 30th Street New York, 10010

I work for NYSIA, the New York Software Industry Association, which holds educational and networking meetings 3-4 times per month. In the last few months, the meetings have actually grown, but the percentage of unemployed people, many from outside the industry, is much, much higher -- maybe 50% at some meetings. I am seeing a lot of ex-Wall Street types who now want to start their own tech businesses.

Decornomics

Story submitted by: RONA BRAND

Thursday, January 29 2009

3408 leeward drive haverstraw, ny 10927

I've been an interior decorator for more than 30 years. People are putting projects on hold whether it's a new kitchen or replacing a fixture. The age of conspicuous consumption is gone. It's no longer "cool" to spend a lot to get the look you want. I'm advising clients to reuse, repaint, reupholster and tap into a more creative approach.

http://www.ronathalerbrandinteriors.com/

Met Opera Tix - Awesome Deal!

Story submitted by: maria callas lovers

Thursday, January 29 2009

Lincoln Center NY, NY

Hi All,

For those who aren't working during the day and like/love opera...run over to the Met!

Here's the deal, you go to the Met around 4pm, or earlier ask the guard where "rush ticket" line is, wait in line for about 1.5 to 2 hours and you get $200+ seats for $25 (weekend), $20 (weekday). (We sat in row N last night.)

It may sound time-consuming but the time really flies b/c the people are very pleasant to chat with and the opera's amazing. And who knows, maybe someone you're chatting with knows someone with a job opening.

I know how easy it is to get into a funk but when you think about it, you're not always going to be not working so why not take advantage of it now?

Enjoy!