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A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

nytimes.com

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Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#71

Post by FireBeyond »

nxsynonym wrote: post #2

While the rising cost of housing is an easy target, why not put the pressure on the companies that are driving the influx of workers and out of control cost of living? If tech companies are drawing people into cities and forcing out those who keep the city itself operating, why not have them subsidize and improve public transportation? Lower income housing? Encourage more remote work or move their headquarters out of…

On the other hand, I feel that she's over-compensating a little.

No-one's saying the $1600/month that she was paying for a 1br in Alameda is "cheap" in any way...

But at $81K salary, her $1000/mo rent is only just touching 20% of her take home, which is in the "very comfortable" range (for reference, most property management companies want you to be "not exceeding 35% of take home income").

Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#72

Post by WalterSear »

cbhl wrote: post #28
nxsynonym wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, but new housing wouldn't be needed if there wasn't such a high influx of people moving into the Bay area. Sure tech isn't the only player in the game, but they're surely one of the biggest. If less people were moving there for high paying jobs - rent wouldn't rise as quickly or as drastically.

Municipalities can choose that! But they don't, because the tax revenues from having jobs there is too lucrative. Every year, you'll see parts of the bay area add xx,xxx new jobs but only x,xxx new homes.

This is what I would so much like Sacramento to legislate.

Severely limit commercial development in any municipality with less than a certain ratio of houses to jobs.

Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#75

Post by auganov »

slackfan wrote: post #53
gozur88 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but with a self-driving car you'll be able to sleep during your commute.

I have slept and have seen plenty of other people sleep on trains all the time. Doesn't really change anything.

If you own the car you'll be able to make it really nice a comfy. Being in it alone (or friends/family) also makes a big difference.

Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#76

Post by twblalock »

nxsynonym wrote: post #2

While the rising cost of housing is an easy target, why not put the pressure on the companies that are driving the influx of workers and out of control cost of living? If tech companies are drawing people into cities and forcing out those who keep the city itself operating, why not have them subsidize and improve public transportation? Lower income housing? Encourage more remote work or move their headquarters out of…

Why punish companies for being successful enough to create attractive, high-paying jobs? The consequences of doing that won't be very good for anyone. A slower economy will hurt the low-income workers a bit more than the high-income workers.

What we need is a solution that encourages and accommodates success, not one that punishes it.

Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#77

Post by twobyfour »

bartart wrote: post #35

It appears that when local cities have control over housing, they make decisions that are good for them, but bad for the state that needs higher paying jobs that generate tax revenue. Plus low density housing is bad for the environment when compared to high density: http://news.colgate.edu/scene/2014/11/urban-legends.html Other places would move heaven and earth to have a place like Silicon Valley and it seems like C…

Thank you for the article link!

Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#78

Post by Dylan16807 »

lex_luthor wrote: post #59
ucaetano wrote: post #52

San Francisco has more than twice the area of Manhattan, with half the population. The San Francisco Bay Area CSA has about the same population as Switzerland, with 2/3 of the area of Switzerland. Both have similar GDPs. If someone wanted to live in Germany, and commute to work in Zurich, with Swiss salaries and German cost-of-living, their commute would be about 1h15min. The housing and infrastructure problems in th…

True. But a non-political solution to affordable housing could be coming soon in the form of rapid transit via Hyperloop. Hyperloop could put deflationary pressure on housing prices. If Hyperloop actually materializes, and their route transit times are anywhere near what they say they will be, then real estate prices should decline in the bay area, or at the worst level out. I doubt people will continue to pay crazy…

Isn't hyperloop pretty low-capacity? I'm doubtful of any major effects on housing.

Re: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M

#80

Post by nfriedly »

edward wrote: post #11

I think these articles about extreme commutes are interesting. I recommend you read what Mr. Money Mustache has to say on the subject. http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/06/the-true-cost-of-c...

The entire article is pretty interesting, but here's the punchline:

> So each mile you live from work steals $795 per year from you in commuting costs.

> $795 per year will pay the interest on $15,900 of house borrowed at a 5% interest rate.

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