I don't know why we'd want to put this to rest yet, its the most egalitarian least controversial topic we've had in months. I love hearing the stories.
My first place after moving from my parents home in 1976 was at 1090 15th Avenue SE in the Como neighborhood. I lived with three other guys in a three bedroom house with a first floor den converted to a forth bedroom. The owner, a grad student in Biology, lived with us. I paid $125 per month utilities and laundry included. I worked three jobs that year. Dishwasher at Rudolph's Bar-B-Q until I landed the Holy Grail of college jobs - and became a Teamster member working the late shift at United Parcel Service. I also had an under grad Teaching Assistant position in the Speech Department. Working at UPS, I earned $7.80 to start and was quickly a making over $9.00 per hour. (Only 20 hours per week but so what at those wages!) With overtime around Christmas and my TA income I often made over $2,000 per month. My rent was less than 10% of my income! I moved around a few time in the late '70s then we elected RWR and things changed. I noticed that most folks who rented their first place before Reagan paid between 10 and 25% of their income. Since then its gone up steady to where Brandon was paying 60%!!! (Remember, "government should not be in the business of redistributing wealth!" Our fair Governor.) And this doesn't take into account the increase payroll tax burden that takes more of our gross pay than in the '70s. I'm so grateful to whoever started this thread, it really shows a snapshot of our community. How we came to be where we are is a function of who we've been in the past. Perhaps someone should capture these little vignettes about first apartments and travel around to photograph the buildings or locations then put them into a book for our next face-to-face get together. When will we meet again anyway? -- In cooperation, Erik Riese Seward: a great place to live, work, learn, and play! (612) 724-3217 home ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
