Wide-eyed political activists are discovering that NYC’s brutal real estate market is just as tough as winning an election. Eager to see Hillary Clinton in the White House, young people are pouring into Brooklyn as unpaid volunteers, only to discover that finding an apartment is one of the most difficult parts of the job.
“These folks are coming from all parts of the country to work for Hillary, and the broker says, ‘I want 15 percent of your annual rent,’ and they’re like ‘What are you talking about?’ ” David J. Maundrell III, the founder of aptsandlofts.com, a real estate brokerage specializing in Brooklyn, told the New York Times.
In Iowa and New Hampshire, locals host an army of young volunteers each election cycle. With far less space to share, New Yorkers are less generous.
According to the Times, some campaigners had some luck at the Avalon Fort Greene, a rental building on the edge of Downtown Brooklyn near Clinton’s headquarters. At least six Clinton aides now call it home.
“It’s a 10-minute walk from the office,” Adrienne Elrod, a campaign spokeswoman, originally from Arkansas told the Times. “It’s easy to come home in the middle of the day to walk the dog.” [NYT] – Christopher Cameron