There's no doubt Monday night's historic, seven-candidate gubernatorial debate was great television. (God knows it was funnier than anything out of SNL lately.) But did it serve a greater purpose?
It says a lot about this year's bizarre race that the Manhattan madam who's done time on Rikers isn't the fringe-iest candidate on the very crowded ballot. That honor belongs to Jimmy McMillan, of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party, whose outrageously baroque swag of facial hair has earned him an endorsement from the American Mustache Institute. His platform is simple, and he stays on message: People, the rent is too damn high. (Though he will opine on other issues, if pressed. McMillan's official stance on gay marriage: "If you want to marry a shoe, I'll marry you.")
But you've got to hand it to McMillan: All theatrics, aside, he's right. The rent IS too damn high. ColorLines, an online magazine dedicated to racial justice, investigates McMillan's oft-repeated claim, and finds more than a kernel of truth.
...[I]n no state can an individual working a full-time, minimum-wage job afford a two-bedroom apartment for herself and her family. In fact, in 28 states and territories, including Washington, D.C., you need more than two full-time jobs. Drilling down further, with the exception of some areas in Puerto Rico, a full-time, minimum-wage worker can’t meet the affordability standard for a two-bedroom apartment in any U.S. county. So, get used to piling the kids into bed with you.
Writers Kai Wright and Hatty Lee hope the fact that McMillan's debate performance has gone viral will draw some real attention to the issue.
McMillan may not make gubernatorial material, but let’s hope his 15 minutes of fame will prompt whoever wins to take affordable housing seriously.
