Category Archives: assignment Five – ISSUES (black & white)

For issue, I am doing smokers smoke in front of Baruch College. Just like all education entities across the country, Baruch is a smoke-free zone. However, there are many smokers, mainly students, that do not obey that law. Most of these law-breakers are, even boldly, smoking  right in front of the school’s entrances as if those are the designated spots where they are allowed to do so. For example, the entrance of 23rd St Building on Lexington Ave, the entrances of VC Building on 24th St and 25th St, and entrance of library building. I have been studying in Baruch for four years and this issue was and still is lingering today. Not only that, these smokers usually smoke with their friends as if it is like a social gathering. Most of these violators smoke in between the classes time- mainly around 1-2pm. I did a rough estimate headcount and do not be surprised that sometimes the number reaches about 100.

Will, this issue continues to foster, or will someone or some party tries to put it to an end?

How MTA Reductions Effect Us All

Since the MTA declared cutting back on having MTA employees manning the subway booths in order to save money, I feel that the importance of safety has decreased dramatically.  In this day and age, it would be nice to know that there is someone in these subway booths assisting customers, giving directions to tourists and being the eyes and ears, for not only crime, but for any unusual activities that may be going on down there.

I chose to take photographs of certain subway stations that no longer have MTA workers in these booths.  Either these booths are completely vacant or in some cases, they have been entirely removed.  Take for instance of a photograph I took at the 42^nd Street Bryant Park subway station in which an MTA worker is no longer present.  To me, I find this is a popular subway stop due to the Bryant Park as well as the proximity to other popular destinations for tourists and workers alike.  I’d stood here for a good fifteen to twenty minutes observing the traffic flow and realized that a good amount of tourists are always perplexed and lack directions.  If an MTA worker was here, he/she would have easily assisted these tourists with subway directions, buying a metrocard and making them feel at ease.

In one of my photographs, there was a man looking at the MTA machines, unable to buy a metro card because at that particular point in time, these machines were not accepting cash, instead, they require only debit or credit cards.  Had there been someone in these booths, this man would not have been a problem obtaining a metrocard.  From his facial expressions as well as him leaving the subway, I gather he was either heading down to the next subway stop to find assistance or simply finding another mode of transportation to his destination.

During the time spent taking these photographs, I saw at least six people jumping over the subway turnstile without paying as there was no one there to stop them.  The ironic thing was that this type of activity is common now and will be costing the MTA a lot more than paying someone a salary.

It looks like these unmanned subway booths are here to stay or, should I say, being torn down, which is sad because I’m afraid, these MTA machines have no other uses and functions apart from issuing metro cards.

I decided to choose to shoot garbage on the street that are around the city. I wonder why people complained about so many rats are running around the city and they did not realize it was done by us. People left messes around that attract rats and roaches. For instance, a picture with the half bitten apple left in the street like that grasp an attention from rats who sense it. If we did not left that apple on the street and throw in garbage. Also, street food vendors leaving food on the street also attract the rats. Another issue that I have is that newspaper on the street. Nowadays, people do not read news from newspaper since there are so many new high tech items are keep coming out. Many people prescribe newspaper on their iphone or internet and we still keep printing so much paper that we do not need. Thus, we could save our environment if people start taking their own action.

New York city is known for its yellow cabs. These cars dominate tourist areas and all of downtown Manhattan because it is legal for them to pick up passengers in the street. These cabs can be hailed conveniently at any street corner. For this photo essay I chose the ongoing issue of the lack of earnings in the cab driving occupation, specifically by “gypsy” and private hire cabs. “Gypsy” or unlicensed cabs are limited to places where the police will not likely lurk such as small neighborhoods , shopping centers or grocery stores as they have no permit to pick up passengers at all.

For hire cabs cannot pick passengers up off the street and are required to only take calls from a dispatcher. Many people will not call a cab company or simply do not know the number. Their cars are required to meet numerous requirements such as having automobiles from a particular year, which is updated every couple of years by the Taxi and Limousine commission. Many cab drivers are forced to rent a car or share the expenses with another driver. Because cab driving is among the most dangerous jobs in New York City in recent years after numerous of attacks and murders of cab drivers, the installation of cameras or partitions is now required to prevent these attacks.

There are fewer permits given out each year because of the regulations that are now applied to cab driving.

Drivers are also the most directly affected by higher gas prices and increased tolls. For hire cabs must also pay the dispatcher as well as the expense of radio receivers, the antenna to receive transmissions, and parking because these items are frequently stolen if the car is found unattended. In short, there are numerous causes for the lack of earning ranging from regulatory expenses to cost of living expenses that affect us all.

In Manhattan, open space is a valuable commodity. The city had offered tax incentives in the 1970’s to spur the construction of public plazas to allow additional space to Manhattan crowds. However, not all of these spaces were designed to invite visitors. Of the two spaces photographed, one is set up several flights from the street. One entrance leads onto the street, but is dark and cavernous and uninviting. The other is situated along an expressway far from pedestrians. The developers could build a plaza to attract tax incentives, without attracting the unwanted crowd. The other plaza, on 23rd Street, was perhaps more well intentioned. Yet it is nothing but a cold, hard space of concrete and brown bricks that does not invite the passersby into it. It is well integrated, but not inviting.