What will you have to give up when you live in San Francisco

“When people ask me what my favorite restaurant is, I laugh,” he quotes his friend author on VICE US. In his opinion, based on personal experience, the area of ​​the gulf in Northern California will soon become a charming hellish abyss, in which it is impossible to really make ends meet.

Photo: Depositphoto

Since the hilly sandbox for games of the rich elite has been here for a long time, the narrow peninsula of 47 square miles San Francisco is on, now it can not withstand the disruptive impact of money from the global technical industry. During Obama's time, the most fashionable and cheapest areas of the city, where (which is not surprising) mostly minority representatives, were invaded by many professionals, often white men. They survived with the help of the prices of those who lived there until the "change", the main example of which, perhaps, is the Mishn. It was a slow seizure of territory, like in the film “Goroshina”, but with Ray-Ban glasses, and financial incentives for renting out real estate and the policy of the city itself, aimed at attracting money from “big technology”, contributed to it (but, apparently, not their “trickle down”).

What happened in the end? Strange metropolis, in which in the most extreme cases public school teachers remained without a roof over their heads, and some people literally rented wooden boxes in friends' apartments or paid large sums of money for tiny buildings from someone in the back yard.

After a bomb of late capitalism exploded in San Francisco, the radiation from it hit the other side of the Gulf, neighboring Auckland, Berkeley and San Jose, which inevitably led to the eviction and gentrification of those who did not have enough money to fight back. Some speak of “New Auckland” in a positive sense, implying that the stories about street robberies and shootouts have been replaced by complaints about backyard fireworks and a barbecue near the lake. Others utter this phrase more mockingly, referring to some major cocktail bar, which opened in the place of a cozy eatery. Be that as it may, few of the Oaklands who survived the supposed chaos of the past still live there, enjoying the apparent prosperity of the new time.

In the meantime, real life is getting harder.

According to a recent study by the National Center for Affordable Housing (NLIHC) to afford renting a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco (“reasonable market value” - 2500 dollars, the real value is likely much higher), you need to earn at least 99 960 dollars a year. A person who tries to live on the city’s minimum salary of 15 dollars per hour would have to work three jobs full-time, or more than 128 hours a week.

According to the same study, on the other side of the bay, in Alameda County (including Auckland and Berkeley), the numbers are reduced to “miserable” 74 200 dollars per year (reasonable market value - 1855 dollars), which implies more than 107 hours of work per week at the minimum Auckland salary in 13.23 dollars per hour. This is technically possible if a person does not mind working two shifts every day of the year.

It should be noted that the indicator of total wealth in the Gulf is also different than in other regions of the country: it is much higher. For example, the median income of a single household in San Francisco is about 87 700 dollars, while in the whole country this figure is closer to 55 300 dollars. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, for a four-person family living in San Francisco County, income at 117 400 dollars per year is considered “low”. One study recently announced that San Francisco has the highest cost of rental housing on the planet.

“In my opinion, everything went downhill on 2014,” said Asusena Racilla, a freelance writer from Auckland. - Previously, there was enough earnings in 50 thousand dollars. In 2011, you could rent a four-bedroom house in a good area [in Auckland] for less than 2000 dollars. Now for 2000 dollars at best, you can rent a studio. Earnings to 50 thousand is enough only if you have a partner who earns about the same. Singles are hard if they are not ready to live with a bunch of roommates. ”

And how did we get to such a vicious situation?

In a broad sense, this story begins at about the end of 70, when in the United States there was even an excess of homes available to low-income families. This excess has long disappeared. What happened? Well, partly it was that the federal government had stopped building budget or social housing; in particular, the Reagan administration cut the budget of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by more than two thirds. Another major hindrance was the 13 Project, which was voted for in California in 1978 and which destroyed the state property taxation system, becoming one of the reasons for the so-called “tax riots” throughout the country. The archaic structure that remained after it discourages people from getting rid of their homes and aggravates income inequality, imposing a long-term lease on them too expensive.

However, the housing crisis was aggravated by recent events, including those that occurred only in California.

The mortgage closure crisis that really began around the year 2006 (California became one of the states most affected by it) drove millions of former homeowners into the rental market; at the same time, a record number of millennials just joined him (because of excessive debts for education, they were deprived of the opportunity to buy housing). In the Bay Area, metastasis of the ideology “just not in my backyard” (it is “NIMBY”) prevented in varying degrees in the construction of new housing. The best example of this is Marin north of San Francisco, one of the richest areas in the country, where development has been successfully hampered since the region abandoned plans to extend the BART Highway line in 1960. In America, wherever there is wealth, there are rich people who do not want to acquire new neighbors.

It has been clear for quite some time what is needed to solve this problem: more housing, as a rule, affordable and often state-funded. But any solution proposed at the national level will be perceived with hostility, as long as the great ideological hypocrisy of the Bay Area exists. Meanwhile, the amazing epidemic of homelessness in the region continues to shock people all over the world.

Photo: Depositphoto

“San Francisco is known for its progressiveness, but the mood is“ only not in my backyard ”here is the strongest in the country,” explained Diane Yentel, CEO of the Center for Affordable Housing. “I don’t know how it turns out.”

Good, but suppose a person just needs to live here. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median income within San Francisco is about 87 700 dollars per year, while in Auckland this figure is lower - 57 800 dollars; given the above calculations of income requirements, this inevitably should lead to a nightmare. Nevertheless, people live here with this “average” salary, and for the minimum salary, and I wanted to know how. With the proviso that the numbers distort extremes at both ends of the income scale (the wealth of the Bay Area has a well-deserved fame, and homelessness here, I repeat, went out of control), this is how people in both strata struggle to make ends meet at 2018 year

Where do they live?

Median income: If they don’t have any acquaintances or if they haven’t lived here forever, then not in San Francisco. Forget about Berkeley. Perhaps they manage to live in Oakland, where it is a little easier than in San Francisco, but only if they use word-of-mouth subleases and offers from “good local” people who are trying to save the face of the city. If you have the appropriate links, you can find a room in the house for less than half the average rent in the city.

Sonya Mann, a communications manager who lives in the eastern part of the Gulf, pays several hundred dollars less than the market value of the rent, as she received special family conditions. She is renting an apartment with 1,5 bedrooms for 1400 dollars per month. “This is a privilege,” she told me. - We would not be able to find this accommodation if I were not related to the owners, as there is a lot of competition for unoccupied apartments. If we suddenly had to move, we would probably leave this area. ”

Minimal Payer: Alameda attracts with something, but at the same time it is rather peculiar, both ideologically (there used to be a naval base, and here, in some places, there is still a strange “American” in the spirit of Lynch), and in practical terms (due to limited public transport). The road to the other end of the bay bridge can take almost an hour, but San Francisco can also be reached by ferry, which takes 20 minutes. A good option is El Cerrito, but it is gentrifying before you read it. Favorable offers can be found at the far ends of the BART system, but transportation costs (additional 6 dollars or so for a round trip) may not be worth it - it all depends on the work of a resident of the area.

However, people, no matter how much they get (median income or minimum salary) and no matter where they settle, they often feel that they are stuck here forever. “Now I pay rent 11-year-old,” said Rachel Wood, a teacher’s assistant who works in restaurants, lives in Inner Richmond (San Francisco) and earns something for a minimum salary in a year at the 40-hour work week. - She grew up, but not by much. If we are evicted, I cranks. We'll have to leave.

How do they move?

Median income: It really depends on how they work. Maximum 6 dollars for the passage of the bridge across the bay will they be paid by the boss? Fine. They come to work early enough to find a parking space, and / or can afford to spend about 25 dollars per day to parking in one of the San Francisco garages during office hours? Gorgeous, although it means that they may want to jump off the bridge over the bay during a traffic jam at rush hour. Some may be getting banged for 2000 dollars from Craigslist. Others are trying to solicit money from the authorities for travel. Clipper card. If a person needs BART and the MUNI Municipal Railway in San Francisco, it will cost 94 dollars per month; if he needs to ride the AC Transit system in the eastern part of the Gulf, it costs 84.60 dollars. (Do not forget one secret: drivers of AC Transit buses do not always wave, whether you pay or not).

"I have a car. This is the Toyota Corolla 2001 of the year, that is, it is probably worth three thousand, Mann told me. - I use it in the eastern part of the Gulf, but I also travel a lot to BART. In San Francisco, I don’t want to get behind the wheel, so there I mainly use BART, and fill in the gaps with Lyft. ”

Minimal Payer: My familiar locals with this income level can get a used bike, say, 100 dollars for city trips. (There is a bus, which is allowed with bikes and which travels across the bay several times a day; one trip will cost 1 dollars.) BART is often too expensive for their budget; one MUNI trip to San Francisco will cost 2.50 dollars, and one trip to Auckland for AC Transit costs 2.35 dollars. All this implies that it is impossible to drive around the bay, as in almost any other American city, without sacrificing anything financially. (It’s worth noting here that BART stops working even at midnight on weekends.)

What do they eat?

Median income: These people can afford Whole Foods or weekly trips to the farmers market if they cut down on other living expenses. If not, you can think about an alternative, like a box with "Imperfect products"which costs 20-40 dollars per week depending on the content. They can eat out somewhere about once a week, but probably only in institutions with low prices. On a special occasion, for example, after a huge increase, they can afford and something more expensive. Burritos are their friends.

Minimal Payer: In this case, often find the nearest cheap grocery store. Grocery outlet (aka - "GrossOut", "byakaleika") and go crazy. In the Oakland store, shoppers enjoy the sweet sound of 50s R&B and soul as they browse the merchandise and even glance at the organic department. And if they earn their minimum wage in public catering, then you can get hold of leftovers.

“When people ask me what my favorite restaurant is, I laugh, because I, if I eat out, order either cheap tacos or cheap Indian cuisine,” Wood told me.

How do they find money for personal care?

On this subject, I think: if a person, regardless of income, is spent on the gym (which, of course, happens to some people whose incomes are not enormous), then he makes a stupid mistake. I always advise running around Lake Merritt and training on some free sports ground, or even better, go hiking in the hills, that's all.

When nature gets boring, said Mike Davey, marketing manager from Auckland, people sometimes go hiking through the tunnels in the eastern part of the Gulf or to local outings. “Search for the necessary information, be vigilant and look where you are going,” he advised.

Can they have fun?

Median income: In New York and Los Angeles, where many artists live, prices for concerts on weekdays are sometimes at least relatively affordable. The situation around the Gulf is different: there (at least, judging by my experience), concerts are often given as part of a large-scale tour. People with this income level can afford to go to decent comedy shows for about 15 dollars and for concerts of bands who really know for about 25 dollars. Celebrities, of course, cost more.

If a person doesn’t have a Movie Pass or this service is laid down, an evening cinema session will cost him 13-15 dollars for a ticket or more, although some may try to attend evening classes for a student ticket, which gives small discounts. Beer in the bar, as in most cities, costs about 5-7 dollars, cocktails - closer to 12 dollars, and drinks in Hawaiian style - as much as 15 dollars. Many residents of the Bay Area may never see a match involving the Golden State Warriors in their lives, if they have no friend of the company’s general director, but may get a mediocre ticket to the San Francisco Giants match, when those season.

Photo: Depositpahotos

“[The fiance and I] eat out about twice a week, but our preferences for restaurants are rather unassuming, and we don’t shy away from fast food,” said Mann. - We both love to go to parties, so most of all in terms of leisure, we probably spend on alcohol and weed. Books are a bit cheaper. ”

Minimal Payer: In this case, locals often come to performances in art warehouses, where they collect money for the hat at the door. Sf fun cheap - A good online guide to free days or cheap concerts, but there you need to sift out a bunch of stupid garbage. In some local theaters, they periodically sell tickets for 5 dollars, usually on Tuesday evening, but there certainly must come in advance. At several discotheques on weekends there is free entrance to 10 evenings, so 21: 55 comes running there. With this level of income, you may have to forget about the Giants - go better on BART to the Oakland Coliseum stadium for a match involving Oakland Athletics. Tickets for the "gallery" can get a cheap; Also, as you know, somewhere after the third inning, you can just get closer to the field.

In fact, the bay of San Francisco, no matter how insanely inaccessible it is for beginners with extremely modest incomes, is a magical place: there are perhaps the most beautiful landscapes and, in my opinion, the most wonderful people in America.

If you manage to overcome the insane bar of obstacles erected over decades of stagnation in housing construction, the continuous influx of new tech money and the good old gentrification, you will be happy to see how super rich people destroy the structure of the region, while people left without attention , claws and teeth cling to everything.

Maybe you even make friends with a few rich techies. Why not? It may even come in handy. Because when the next generation of Masks and Zuckerberg finally closes the city for people who do not have unreal wealth (which is inevitable), they may want to put your name on the “normal poor” list.

Possible.

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