Time Bank to Turn City into Giant Commune

NY is building membership for a city-wide skills share program to encourage service and volunteerism. Participants will ante up their own talents, bike repair, say, and then get a credit to take the lesson of their choosing. The Time Bank, as it's called, will cover a great range of talents and activities, which, in commune or co-op fashion, will be purchased with its own currency, "time dollars." What's next, name tags?

Bloomberg first introduced the Time Bank plan in April 2009, and since then has enrolled over 80 skilled New Yorkers. Actual exchanges won't begin until the spring, says the NY Daily News. NY's Time Bank is part of global craze, which in part can be attributed to the job crisis which as left people with pennies in the bank, and time to spare. There's a social networking angle too: Time Bank members will register and peruse each other's profiles and connect on the website NYCService.org, says NBC.

Souffle bakers and crocheters step right up, but those with more unsavory skills—alphabet burpers and bong makers, for example—need not apply. City officials insist "participation is safe and that volunteers have to attend an orientation session, be interviewed and provide references."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Sabrina Jaszi in News on January 12, 2010 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

henryblemin

some skills require more training and effort and thus there should be a difference in earned wage. however, when times are rough it might not be a bad idea to offer your service in order to receive help from many others with skills you can use in daily life.

Cautious Pessimist

Well, this certainly is an interesting concept. I mean, who could have thought up trading your time and effort in order to earn some kind of fiat currency that represents a certain amount or value, and then using said currency in order to purchase the products and efforts of other peoples' skills?

In completely unrelated news, I recently invented this device with a hole in the middle and a smooth, round outer edge. It's really amazing nobody's ever thought of it before.

ozik

The difference between the time bank and regular wage labor is pretty significant. The reason most relevant to your post is that a time bank usually values all labor equally - an hour of chiropracty is equal to an hour of party clown entertainment (something I agree with in more ways than one).

JenChungsBaby

I'm sorry but if you can't explain it in five seconds or less it ain't gonna catch on.

jennu

I can say "It's a skills barter system." in 5 seconds.

tom9d

This is awfully pinko. But if it means Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes I can pay for with Time Dollars, I will support it.

tom9d

...cause that shit's expensive.

NattyB

That's my aunt's photo! Go Hippie Bus!

lostwallet

I wonder what their rates are on time loans. I never have enough.

Manitoba

Has anyone contacted the IRS? This is basically bartering, which you are required to report on your returns. This program looks like it's asking for one heck of an audit.