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Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

theguardian.com

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Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#41

Post by dpark »

bryanlarsen wrote: post #28
dpark wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If we can afford a program to feed the poor, we can afford a program to feed everyone This isn't actually true, which is why means testing exists. If San Francisco gave every resident just $200/month for food, it would cost the city over $2 billion/year. And that's assuming only $200/month and no other assistance programs. The only way to get rid of means testing while maintaining existing social services would be…

"drastically raise taxes." Sure, on paper it would drastically raise taxes, but the net effect would be nil. The average taxpayer would have taxes raised by $200 and receive a benefit of $200/month. And the raise should be substantially less than $200 because you no longer have to pay for the old food assistance program, nor most of the bureaucracy for it.

I kind of doubt anyone would vote for a tax increase spread across the population evenly, even if it hypothetically was offset by equivalent benefits. In reality, the tax burden would be progressive, and upper middle class people would rightly ask why they're paying extra taxes for this.

I don't know why you think giving everyone money is going to "substantially" reduce net cost, either. The bureaucracy isn't where most of the cost goes.

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#42

Post by lostboys67 »

rm_-rf_slash wrote: post #17
princekolt wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sad part is that California, being the largest state in the US, should be the last one to have this sort of housing problems...

It has been attempted, and the only thing to show for it is perhaps America's most over-hyped ghost town[0]. Few Californians or transplants to California want to live anywhere but near the coastline. California's climate is not as pleasant once you go further inland. Also, the coastline is seismically active, and does not pose as a great location for Manhattan-style skyscrapers. (For that reason, I have always found…

Skyscrapers withstand earth quakes better than lo rise in most cases

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#43

Post by ProAm »

austenallred wrote: post #2

“Back in the day, [the wage] would have been a great number,” said Victor, “but because of Facebook moving in, everything is so expensive. I have to get payday loans sometimes. We barely make it.” They make a combined (rounded) $75,000/year. The real tragedy is that you can't afford to make it in the Bay Area on $75k/yr. I don't think that's something you can blame solely on Facebook.

> I don't think that's something you can blame solely on Facebook

You'll never be able to solely blame macro economic issues on a single entity, they certainly contribute to the to the issue however.

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#44

Post by plttn »

mc32 wrote: post #25

MacDonald's is also a multibillion dollar corp., nobody in their right mind thinks they can raise a family working at MacD's without additional income or subsidy. It's a job for teenagers to get experience and for blue collar retirees to make some money to and to their SS checks. People should stop thinking teenager jobs sustain families. It doesn't have the value add. If you want to make a living open up a stand and…

>If you want to make a living open up a stand and maybe if you do things well, you'll survive and thrive.

And if you don't survive and thrive? Then what?

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#45

Post by digitalneal »

jmcdiesel wrote: post #29

Facebook didn't make the area expensive. No tech company did. Those local businesses, and the chains alike, have made it expensive. So much blame gets put on the tech companies, but the tech companies aren't raising the prices, they are just paying people better, and the local businesses abuse that to the fullest extent. There is no NEED to charge $6 for a gallon of milk, when milk from those same cows is sold for $2…

Your assumption is the "local businesses" own their property. I don't know many small grocery chains that own their lots. "All boats rise with the tide". High demand for residential means commercial and industrial zoned lots will also increase in value/rent/lease.

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#46

Post by tmh79 »

The real story here is how the political conditions of the SFBA have prevented growth of the housing supply. The sad reality is that housing here is now a zero sum game, and any broad based increase in wages would pretty quickly be captured by landlords. The real solution to this issue is not higher wages, but targeted efforts to decrease the cost of living through building a ton of of "missing middle" housing like 4-plexes near office space in the sea of land populated by single family home zoning as well as renters protections (rent control and eviction protection) ADUs ("accessory dwelling unit": stand alone units in peoples garages or back yards) and likely some for of social housing subsidy for the worst off among us.

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#47

Post by refurb »

ProAm wrote: post #43
austenallred wrote: post #2

“Back in the day, [the wage] would have been a great number,” said Victor, “but because of Facebook moving in, everything is so expensive. I have to get payday loans sometimes. We barely make it.” They make a combined (rounded) $75,000/year. The real tragedy is that you can't afford to make it in the Bay Area on $75k/yr. I don't think that's something you can blame solely on Facebook.

> I don't think that's something you can blame solely on Facebook You'll never be able to solely blame macro economic issues on a single entity, they certainly contribute to the to the issue however.

Contributing to the issue? You mean by creating a ton of high paying jobs? Are you saying they should stop doing that?

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#48

Post by rhizome »

cabaalis wrote: post #4

Serious question, politics aside. How many jobs have been prior filled by teenagers or recent college graduates, that are no longer being filled by those groups for whatever reason? Is every single type of profession required to support a family of 4? Edit: 5, per the photo on the article

It's been a long time since I've seen teenagers (or the college-aged) working at a grocery store, or even Target.

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#49

Post by little_cat »

austenallred wrote: post #2

“Back in the day, [the wage] would have been a great number,” said Victor, “but because of Facebook moving in, everything is so expensive. I have to get payday loans sometimes. We barely make it.” They make a combined (rounded) $75,000/year. The real tragedy is that you can't afford to make it in the Bay Area on $75k/yr. I don't think that's something you can blame solely on Facebook.

Removed, changed my mind.

Re: Cafeteria workers at Facebook struggle to make ends meet

#50

Post by kesselvon »

celim307 wrote: post #38
mc32 wrote: post #25

MacDonald's is also a multibillion dollar corp., nobody in their right mind thinks they can raise a family working at MacD's without additional income or subsidy. It's a job for teenagers to get experience and for blue collar retirees to make some money to and to their SS checks. People should stop thinking teenager jobs sustain families. It doesn't have the value add. If you want to make a living open up a stand and…

I don't understand, what point are you making? Your solution is pull yourself up by your bootstraps?

"have the poor considered making more money?"
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