Tag Archives: New York City

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On this day … Isaac Asimov – A writer, credited with inventing science fiction


Isaac Asimov
Born: 1929 | Died: 1992 72 years old
He is credited with inventing modern science fiction and wrote and edited more than 500 works during his lifetime.

Born on January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi, Russia, Isaac Asimov immigrated with his family to the United States and became a biochemistry professor while pursuing writing. He published his first novel, Pebble in the Sky, in 1950. An immensely prolific author who penned nearly 500 books, he published influential sci-fi works like I, Robot and the Foundation trilogy, as well as books in a variety of other genres. Asimov died in New York City on April 6, 1992.

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Top 10 2013: least and most expensive places to live


COLI Release Highlights, Quarter 3 2013

<!–This report represents the sixth edition of a new format for the Cost of Living Index. Starting in 2007, C2ER has published an Annual Review of data for the preceding year. The data contained within the report represents unweighted average prices submitted for the first three quarters of the year, with new index numbers calculated using the modified weights for the upcoming year applied to these average prices. For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit our website at http://www.coli.org/Method.asp.

–>Among the 306 urban areas that have participated the third quarter 2013 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) to just over 19 percent below the national average in Norman, OK.   The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Third Quarter 2013 National Average for 306 Urban Areas = 100
 Most Expensive  Least Expensive
Ranking Urban Areas COL Index Ranking Urban Areas COL Index
1 New York (Manhattan) NY 221.3 1 Norman OK 82.4
2 New York (Brooklyn) NY 175.6 2 Pueblo CO 82.5
3 Honolulu HI 167.5 3 Harlingen TX 83.4
4 San Francisco CA 159.9 4 Memphis TN 84.9
5 New York (Queens) NY 151.4 5 Youngstown-Warren OH 85.5
6 Hilo HI 149.1 6 Covington KY 85.7
7 San Jose CA 148.8 7 Tupelo MS 85.8
8 Stamford CT 143.3 8 Augusta-Aiken GA-SC 85.9
9 Washington DC 141.6 9 Birmingham AL 85.9
10 Orange County CA 140.7 10 Sherman-Denison TX 86.2

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences in the index numbers should not be interpreted as significant.

The composite index is based on six components – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

www.coli.org

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Please Support the Black Institute


Since 2010, The Black Institute has been the premiere “action tank” mobilizing the immigration reform movement from a Black perspective. We have advocated for low wage fast food workers, a Walmart Free NYC, Caribbean DREAMERS, comprehensive immigration reform, the rights of immigrants, environmental justice, and the deprivatization of public education. The latest TBI initiative is The G Project. The G Project aims to impact Comprehensive Immigration Reform by shifting the perception of immigrants in this country to include Black immigrants. This is achieved by identifying blacks and black immigrants as “G’s.”

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We need you to support our initiatives and help us fight back! Our opponents are well funded by big corporations and wealthy donors. You can make a big difference and give us a fighting chance. Make your end of the year tax-deductible donation RIGHT NOW!!!!!
Please take Action today with a contribution of $25, $50, $100 or $250 today by clicking here!!

Sincerely,

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Bertha Lewis

The Black Institute http://www.theblackinstitute.org/

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Sign our Petition: Brooklyn NOT Busters!


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Dear TBI Friend and Supporter,

Over a year ago technicians at a Brooklyn Cablevision location overwhelmingly voted to join the Communications Workers of America, but they are still waiting for a fair contract. Why? Cablevision CEO James Dolan and his company have refused to bargain in good faith.

Not only does Dolan control one of the largest cable companies in New York City, he also owns the largest arena in Manhattan – Madison Square Garden. The NBA has announced that the 2015 All-Star game will be held in New York, either at Madison Square Garden or the Brooklyn-based Barclays Center.

We need your help: the NBA shouldn’t reward a union-buster with an event like the All-Star Game. Sign this petition to urge the NBA to hold the game at Barclays Center, not Dolan-owned Madison Square Garden.

As part of their anti-union campaign, Dolan and Cablevision gave everyone at the company a raise except the Brooklyn technicians. Later, Cablevision fired 22 workers who attempted to use the company’s open door policy to discuss the stalled contract negotiations. He refuses to pay these technicians fairly for their work, but last year he paid himself $11.45 million – nearly as much as all the Brooklyn techs combined.

Please step up and help us make sure James Dolan and his union-busting company do not get rewarded for their behavior.

Sign the petition here.

Bertha Lewis President & Founder The Black Institute http://www.theblackinstitute.org/