<p>Bill de Blasio&#8217;s New York City has become such an inhospitable place due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and the ongoing civil unrest stemming from Black Lives Matter protests that apartment vacancies in Manhattan have surged to record numbers.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/manhattan-apartment-vacancies-record-coronavirus-exodus">Fox Business</a>, the real estate and consulting firm Miller Samuel found that rental listings in the Big Apple have risen 14.5% since August of last year—to a record 15,025. Simultaneously, the vacancy rate has climbed a record 5.1%.</p>
<p>“With a nominal uptick in month over month new lease signings, activity appeared to bottom last month,” said Miller Samuel CEO Jonathan Miller.</p>
<p>More from Fox Business:</p>
<blockquote><p>Landlords enticed new tenants by offering the largest share of concessions on record. Slightly more than 54% of new lease signings received concessions, like a month of free rent or payment of brokers’ fees.</p>
<p>Rental prices were down 7.7% from a year ago, including concessions, with the biggest declines occurring in the lower-priced segment of the market.</p>
<p>The average monthly rent for a studio fell 3.5% month-over-month to $2,574. The rate was down 8.6% from last year.</p>
<p>One-bedroom listings, meanwhile, saw prices slide 5.3% versus last year to an average of $3,445 per month.</p>
<p>Prices on Manhattan’s East Side have seen the largest average decline, down 10.6% from a year ago. Average monthly rents have dipped 3.8% year-over-year Downtown, while prices on the West Side and Northern Manhattan have dropped 2.9% and 3.1% on a year-over-year basis, respectively.</p></blockquote>
<p>The trouble in New York City and whether or not it will once again reclaim its iconic status has been a source of debate for the past month.</p>
<p>In August, hedge fund manager and comedy club owner James Altucher penned a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nyc-dead-forever-heres-why-james-altucher/?src=aff-lilpar&amp;veh=aff_src.aff-lilpar_c.partners_pkw.10078_plc.Skimbit%20Ltd._pcrid.449670_learning&amp;trk=aff_src.aff-lilpar_c.partners_pkw.10078_plc.Skimbit%20Ltd._pcrid.449670_learning&amp;clickid=TBmVrsXEZxyOTphwUx0Mo3YmUkiQMRXoKQvT3Q0&amp;irgwc=1">viral blog post</a> declaring that &#8220;New York City Is Dead Forever.&#8221; His biggest argument for this doomsaying hinged on the prevalence of competent and steady bandwidth that allows people to work remotely from anywhere in the country that they choose.</p>
<p>“In 2008, average bandwidth speeds were 3 megabits per second. That’s not enough for a Zoom meeting with reliable video quality. Now, it’s over 20 megabits per second. That’s more than enough for high-quality video,” argued Altucher. “There’s a before and after. BEFORE: no remote work. AFTER: everyone can remote work.”</p>
<p>“The difference: bandwidth got faster. And that’s basically it,” he continued. “People have left New York City and have moved completely into virtual worlds. The Time Life building doesn’t need to fill up again. Wall Street can now stretch across every street instead of just being one building in Manhattan.”</p>
<p>Altucher&#8217;s essay prompted stark emotions from different corners of the internet. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, a long-time New Yorker, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jerry-seinfeld-new-york-is-not-dead">penned an op-ed</a> in The New York Times telling him to &#8220;shut up.&#8221;</p>
<p>“Oh, shut up. Imagine being in a real war with this guy by your side,” he continued. “Listening to him go, ‘I used to play chess all day. I could meet people. I could start any type of business.’ Wipe your tears, wipe your butt and pull it together. He says he knows people who have left New York for Maine, Vermont, Tennessee, Indiana. I have been to all of these places many, many, many times over many decades. And with all due respect and affection, Are .. You .. Kidding .. Me?!”</p>
<p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dean-cain-new-york-is-becoming-land-of-the-flee-not-shocked-by-this-exodus">Dean Cain: New York Is Becoming ‘Land Of The Flee,’ ‘Not Shocked’ By This Exodus</a></strong></p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Manhattan Apartment Vacancies Surge To Record Numbers

CONTINUE READING

POLL: Three-Quarters Of Catholics Believe Pro-Abortion Authorities Should Not Receive Communion

CBS Anchor Muses If Famed Walgreens Shoplifter Is ‘Probably Getting Something You Need,’ ‘An Act Of Desperation’

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Says He Will ‘Listen And Learn’ After 46% Favor Him For President

J.K. Simmons Praises ‘Juno’ Co-Star Elliot Page (Formerly Ellen): ‘Iconic In A New Way’

Kevin Hart Blasts His Critics: ‘The Hate/Slander Fuels Me To Do More’

‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Gets Big Applause After Revealing He’s A Virgin

News and Commentary

COVID

New York City

Riots

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News and Commentary —

Manhattan Apartment Vacancies Surge To Record Numbers