stories. That is the job of indie
filmmakers and other journalists
whose jobs have been getting
tougher. The six mega-media
moguls, who control our “news”
don’t want you to know too
much. Student debt is at 1.3 tril-
lion and climbing higher than all
other debt like credit cards. Only
mortgage debt is higher and
they both were attacked and/or
ignored by this current tax plan
giveaway to the one percent-
ers and the corporate oligarchy.
So our American empire is out
of control, much like Rome in its
decline and fall.
There is the story of Nelly who
ran a restaurant in the Village
for over a decade. Her landlord
wanted her out and she was
evicted unfairly. She lost her
life savings fighting him in the
courts. Mom and Pop shops go
month to month with no rights
as commercial tenants. Land-
lords can raise the rent by five
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 42
times and offer a one year lease.
Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks
litter the landscape to the ex-
clusion of the lost bookstores
and cafés. You can get an $8
smoothie if you are a student
with a trust fund. You can also
live in the Village if you can af-
ford $4,000 for a two bedroom.
Historical buildings are being
gutted to satisfy the one per-
centers who demand modern
conveniences. St. Vincent’s Hos-
pital which served the commu-
nity for over 140 years is turned
into a modern condo with a four
bedroom going for around $20
million with a $15,000 a month
maintenance charge. Where do
we go from here?
There has been a strategy to
lower the standard of living for
middle class families by intro-
ducing a Global economy. Much
real estate is owned in this coun-
try, especially the cities like New
York, by foreigners and foreign
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