For the nine-millionth time, stop blaming “Hipsters” for the census.
Sigh. It happened again. After City Councilwoman Diana Reyna stated that “‘hipsters’ may be part of the cause” for the New York City’s inaccurate census results, the media went wild, with L Magazine bringing up the tired “hipsters are too cool” argument, and Metro NY going as far as to accuse hipsters of costing NYC billions of dollars in federal funding. (The Awl has a shot of the even-more inflammatory print headline here).
As we pointed out last April, the “hipster” areas of Williamsburg etc had census return rates that were about on par with the rest of the city, making this more of a story of media sensation and less a story of substance. It also, as City Limits points out, blatantly ignores very real issues that get in the way of census returns: the fact that so many residents live in inaccessible-to-the-public apartment buildings, that so many residents live in illegally subdivided or sublet apartments, that undocumented immigrants may be less-than-willing to talk about their living situation with a government representative, or that the city’s population may indeed have plummeted due to the this-city-being-so-fucking-expensive-no-one-can-afford-to-live-here-anymore factor.
So can we get over this hipsters-hate-the-census thing already, and move on to some real problems? Like how you can never reach Northside carservice on weekend mornings, or that it’s been almost two months, and the Weeknd has STILL only put out one mixtape?
ps – you all had better have actually filled out your damn census forms, otherwise I’ll look like a real big idiot.
hate Diana Reyna btw,
in a word – retarded
when a bunch of local residents asked a big domino developer to provide more open space and maybe chip in with transportation issues she fought with the developer against open space and everything we were asking for. The developer also paid money to churches who’s pasors then got their congregations on the developers side and provided buses and a free lunch to those who would show on on the developers side during hearings.
imo Diana Reyna was payed off as well
Why do you hate her? Because she is right?
“imo Diana Reyna was payed off as well”
WTF? PROVE IT!
“payed”?
Learn to spell douche.
While I am only 1 person. I can say that i know 3 apartment households of 20-something “hipsters” that filled out the census saying only 1 person lived there, rather than the real total (ranging from 2-3). They did it because they were afraid of being caught in their illegal living situation(s). While I agree its not the core problem, it’s being exacerbated and is being turned into a scapegoat; it shouldn’t be written off as completely.
obviously there are a ton of issues that factor into the census and blaming it on hipsters is completely irrational.
but with that said, NONE of my friends filled it out.
not beans, cant count us
i filled it out! oh wait, i live in ridgewood, my bad.
tomorrow im goin to get some fuddruckers
yeah thats a good idea
Good one commenting on the weekend.
*cool points*
Can’t wait for hipsters to be totally priced out. Just a few more years and we’ll have it like Park Slope over here. Totally Bi Winning.