Asian Life in New York City | Asian American Poll

ASIAN LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:11:32 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Which NYC area offers the best environment for Asian Americans?
Manhattan | 53%
Queens/Flushing | 32%
Westchester | 3%
Long Island | 5%
Brooklyn | 4%
North Bergen | 3%

What's the best thing about living in the New York City area?
Being at the Center of the Universe | 32%
Great Street Life & Nightlife | 22%
Not Having to Drive Everywhere | 13%
Intellectual & Cultural Stimulation | 33%

What's the worst thing about living in the New York City area?
Horrible Winters | 32%
Lack of Personal Space | 2%
Rampant Ignorance & Prejudice toward Asians | 5%
Cramped Overpriced Housing | 61%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

LSD,

Sounds like a cozy walk up you live in. You should write the Asian Friends or some other TV sitcom based on your experience there and sell it to Japan or Korean TV producers.

My motto is that NYC has the best and worst of everything. We have the best and worst schools. We have the best and worst people. We have the best and worst homes.

But a lot of jews changed their last name and noses so that they would appear more anglo white. At least those in entertainment are filled with these types of Jews. I think Asian due to appearances will need to actually affect what people visualize as an average American. That is a pretty tough job in an off itself.

You see that show "American Idol" where they try to screen applicants to become the next pop singing sensation. I didn't watch all of it. But there were things one of the blunter judges would say, "You don't look like an American Idol."

That is the fact of life most asian need to deal with in America, even NYC.
AC Dropout Monday, July 01, 2002 at 08:07:31 (PDT)

"New York City is nice, but I would prefer to live somewhere else"
Choon S. Lee Godsoldier125@hotmail.com Sunday, June 30, 2002 at 15:47:05 (PDT)

AC,

Actually all of the Japanese who live in my building are professionals. One of them is a violinist who performs in Lincoln Center and teaches music. The other is a web developer and a band studio musician. Most of those Japanese bumbling arties are found in the East Village and Lower East Side where the rent is much cheaper.

There is also one student living in my building. She currently enrolled in the School of Visual Arts and comes from a well to do family. Her dad was a top manager in one of the HSBC banks in Kowloon before he became a self employed entrepreneur.

In most areas, people don't associate with their neighbors. However, in my building people do invite their neighbors into their apartment. It's quite appropriate because as Asians, we tend to share a collectivist outlook with each other. There are only 6 apartments in my building and everyone quite friendly with one another. Since everyone in my building is from Asia with the exception of me, people are less individualistic and self centered. Only Asians who have been assimilated tend to exhibit strong self centered behaviors like that of Whites.
LSD Friday, June 28, 2002 at 13:36:15 (PDT)

AC,

I am the person who don't believe in excuses for one's shortcomings. If you grew up in a rough neighborhood then you should make the best of it or find ways to improve your current situation.

One nice thing about NYC is that it provides resources for people who want to get ahead in life. Whether they are programs or funds, low income people can make good use of them. Go to some other city in the US and poor people are not treated as well. Even the housing projects in NYC are more decent than those from other places of which many resemble prison camps or slums.

Life can be strange sometimes. Adversity seems to be beneficial to those who make good use of it. It might hinder some people in life but usually it serves as a basis for unparallel achievement and success. For example, I was reading a book about the successes of Jewish Americans of the baby boomer generations. During the decades before the 1960s, they were seen as outsiders and unassimilated immigrants. People were often hostile towards them so they were discriminated in many sectors of life. But that didn't stop them from being millionaires, billionaires or highly educated professionals. In fact those hostilities were the reasons why the Jews were so driven for achievement and success. More than 60% of Jewish American baby boomers are considered "affluent" or influential.

Everyone wishes to be complacent and comfortable. Unfortunately complacency can breed laziness and unproductivness. You see it among the later generation of Jews and the more well to do Asian kids. They were given with material comforts so they are less "hungry" for change, success and improvement.

LSD Friday, June 28, 2002 at 11:04:10 (PDT)

LSD,

I think Guiliani did a good job cleaning up the city. Too good and then he started to bust jaywalkers. But that is also the reason why alot of people have not left after 9/11. Let hope Bloomberg can do a similar with a billion dollar deficit.

I mean does it matter wear you live. It's not like you make chit chat with your neighbors like it was dorm or something then show up for coffee and diner. Do you?

Rent is always expensive in the city. I once knew someone that spent over $400,000 to get two one bedroom condos next to each other, just to knock down a wall. I was like are you nuts, not to mention the the monthly maintaince fee.

But living in the city is fun and convenient. I use to crash in the Barnyard dorms when I partied too hard and was too broke and tired to shlep over the bridges and tunnels.

Most AA are the corporate types. Not too many AA I know that are arties. I probably know about 3 that are arties in my circle.

The arties people I met must be those japanese that aren't corporate employees. They are like on some vision quest or something in the city. They seem almost directionless at times.

There is another place I wouldn't mind living; around York Ave in midtown near Rockefeller and New York Hospital. South of 57 there are some nice resturants and hang outs.
AC Dropout Thursday, June 27, 2002 at 14:15:47 (PDT)

ny aa,

Little Neck, Bayside area.
AC Dropout Thursday, June 27, 2002 at 13:57:09 (PDT)

AC dropout what part of nyc do you live in? I live in astoria queens.
ny aa Wednesday, June 26, 2002 at 19:18:14 (PDT)

AC,

Yep, many areas in the city are pretty much the same. I do agree that most places below 14th St. are noisy.

All of the people that I know who live in the Murray Hill section are over 35. According to several rental sources, Murray Hill is a favorite among the median age people. It is a dead quiet area situated in the eastside for the well to do. Since Murray Hill is an expensive to moderate price area to live, I'm pretty sure many young adults who are 30 or less prefer to live there as well.

I live in the Clinton section of Manhattan. This area was known as Hell's Kitchen back in the good old days. It was infested with drugs and organized crime. After many decades of decadence, the area was finally cleaned up during the Guiliani era. Currently it still is a major area of development/renewal. After living there for a year, I found out it was one of the most desirable places in Manhattan because it is near Times Sq and Broadway. It seems to be an area for the artistic yet practical folks. If you are an artist but don't have the income, then you cannot live there. Rents start from $1300 and up.

There aren't many AAs who live in the Clinton section but you do find many Asians from Asia. Everyone in my building is from Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Since I'm one of these artistic and practical individuals, the area is very suitable for me. If I was only the bohemian artistic type, I would be in the East Village. If I was only a money oriented individual, I would be in Murray Hill, or some other place in midtown east.

Most people do not want to live in the middle of a bustling area. Usually desirable areas to live are the ones near busy places.
LSD Wednesday, June 26, 2002 at 13:52:32 (PDT)

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