Cover Page
Joshua Adames
The creation of this project helped me better understand the creation of many of the op ed’s I
viewed and better understand their objectives and points. This essay is based on a big issue
occurring in New York recently with the affordability becoming so bad that most people now
all have side hustles just to afford rent for an apartment. Wages have not been raised at the rate
inflation has increased yet our government stays complacent. This topic allowed me a deeper
insight into the scale of this issue that affects my way of living astronomically. I did not think far
enough.
My intended audience is other New Yorkers so that they can face the facts of the issues we are
dealing with and by pointing them out we can band together and get them sorted. I attempted to
make a call to action pointing out the facts leaning more on logic than empathy or my credibility
since my audience living here understands the struggle just not the scale.
This assignment assisted me in learning how to paraphrase articles I use to better
fit my audience. It also assisted me and familiarized myself with the usage of MLA format.
These skills will assist me in the future to better add these things to my essays to fit my audience.
This essay allows me to express my gripes on the costs of living here and better learn
to apply evidence.
Joshua Adames
Professor Crowe
Composition for Scientific World FIQWS 10111
Wages Vs Inflation
New York City, a huge city full of opportunity and diversity, is well known for being one
of the most expensive places to live in all of the United States. With it costing so much to live
within New York City and with inflation being higher than ever you would think that the wages
would also be quite large within the city. Now while this is true the cost seems to be rising at a
higher rate than wages. New York, the city of dreams, thousands living in it are having issues with
financial stability and literacy.
It is common knowledge that the pandemic in 2020 raised the price of many things
exponentially since times were tough. Gas rising in price 2 fold at some places due to
supply chain issues. The increase of many essential objects was a big issue back in 2020 and still
is today since wages have not increased since 2019 before the pandemic. 15$ an-hour minimum
wage just isn’t cutting it when in NYC the average rent is a minimum 3,500 with a max of 7,426
depending on the burrow and the number of people. Prices have been rising while the minimum wage
stagnates. Pay in general is the same when the cost of many things is around 1.4 times greater
than they were before. This financial issue stacks upon the housing issue. These ludicrous prices
being used to rent mid-tier or even bad apartments is due to the housing crisis being had in the
city with many wanting to move in and willing to pay more making old residents get their rent raised
or kicked out of their houses. There is also how competitive the job market has become to the
point where people coming into work now are not looking to build careers, it’s about the pay.
Jobs are unstable.
This issue is not a simple one to fix. Many think that raising the minimum wage is the
ultimate solution which it really is but our government is under large stress right now and with
banks closing and inflation rising it is unlikely we will see a wage raise. Some will turn to
budgeting or rationing funds which is a good thing to do but with how little cash you can make
and just how volatile the economy is it is just mitigating a huge issue postponing the inevitable if
you will. The city itself is a volatile and expensive place to live and as time goes on if measures
are not taken by the government no one may live in New York in the not so far future.
New York City as we know it is an expensive place to live and it only seems to be getting
more pricey. If we want change it seems we must fight for it because if wages don’t rise or prices
don’t lower only the rich will be left because as it is now it doesn’t look like this city will be
sustainable. The City of Dreams will fade just as dreams do into nothing as we wake up to the
reality of how high the cost of living here is and eventually move on.
Work Cited
Kucklick A., Manzer L.(2023), NYC true cost of living, New York City 2023
