Month: October 2017

I’m hoping to do a sit down with the CFO of the The Inn, in New Hyde Park. It’s a sought after banquet hall, that provides weddings, exclusive parties, fundraisers, etc. Sometimes all of these events are going in at the same time in the event hall. I would like to sit down, with management during these hectic days, and get an idea of the scale of operations. I’m just waiting on confirmation.

With the media coverage on DACA and deportations people who don’t understand it tend to say that people should just apply for residency and citizenship. During Trump’s campaign and election the number of citizenship applications increased dramatically. The problem is it is not a simple process and definitely not a short one. Obtaining residency can take years and citizenship even longer. I would like to document this experience by speaking with people who have become a permanent resident and people who have become citizens. I also want to include the challenges they face during the process as well as their experience before it.

I have two pitches.

1. I was thinking about doing a podcast about individual and small business efforts to help Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. I will say, this may be tough for me being that it would probably lean a certain direction due to the current administrations lack of effort and view of the Puerto Rican people. I may not be able to stay objective so this may not be a go for me.
2. I want to do a podcast on the older generation of students attending college, Baruch and others. I want to know how they feel about attending school with those that can be half their ages, the pros and the cons and any experiences they would like to share. (I would also like to write an article with the same concept)

Park Slope, Brooklyn is the neighborhood I was born and raised in. The neighborhood is full of brownstones and 3 story apartment buildings until recently. Now big developments are coming in and building higher than ever. Thats nothing new. What is, however, is a very special store to my family closing. Our neighborhood bodega.

This is the place where my grandfather had a beer in the back with his friends before he passed away. This is where my mom gets her coffee in the morning. The building the bodega is located in was just sold and after over 20 years, the owner is closing his doors at the end of the month.

This story also ties into that recent story about two guys who wants to create a virtual store named bodega. However, just because it has that name does not mean thats what it is. I want to explore the feelings of my neighborhood bodega owner and dive into the future of these type of stores.

UPDATE: My radio story was done on Melody Lanes bowling alley instead.

NFL players kneeling during the national anthem has been one of the most controversial topics not only in sports, but in all of America over the past year.  The conversation was once again thrust into the national spotlight after President Trump called the kneeling players “sons of bitches” during one of his rallies last month and suggested that those who do kneel should be released by the owners.  This led to over one hundred fifty players kneeling that weekend, causing strong reactions one way or another from fans.  My pitch is to go to MetLife Stadium on a Sunday when either the Jets or Giants play and interview real fans before the game to get their opinions on the situation as a whole, including the player who started all of this (Colin Kaepernick) and Trump’s tweets.  By talking to people at the stadium, I hope to get an idea of what local everyday fans in our area think about the issue.

Recently Forbes released an article stating that Adidas has taken over Jordan brand as the #2 most popular sneaker Company in the U.S only behind Nike.

I would like to document this news story because it is interesting take on how the culture of footwear has shifted a little. With my Podcast, i plan on interviewing customers at not only at my store where I work, but at my local mall and go into an Adidas store and ask people what about Adidas at this moment makes them so prominent in the industry. Also a good take on the podcast would be why they believe Jordan Brand is slipping and what they can do to make a comeback.

While I was in route to another event that I had planned on shooting pictures of, I ran into the beginning of small parade which caught my interest. It was the Hudson County Dominican Parade, which I didn’t know existed until that day. I’ve been to the parades in Manhattan in the past, and although the city’s is fairly bigger, there was an intimate element that I appreciated in this experience.

I got my camera out and walked the parade route, which was from 80th Street, all the way to 42nd Street. While I was walking the almost 40 blocks to get to the end of the parade, I snapped some photos that document the preparation of the parade, the workers, and the people who are attending.

https://rolandocruz.exposure.co/small-parade-big-hearts

I hope you enjoy.

For my radio assignment, I plan to document the Diwali celebration in Times Square on Saturday, October 7th, 2017. I would like to document this event, because it is my first time attending and I find it interesting to get familiar with a culture that is different from mine. When I researched the event, it seemed exciting and vibrant. Diwali is also known as the “Festival of Lights” and is celebrated to honor Rama-chandra, the seventh avatar (incarnation of the god Vishnu). 

I want to hear what people think of this event whether or not they are knowledgeable of the holiday/event. I want to know what their thoughts are and whether it’s their first time attending. I don’t plan to be selective, I would just like to receive anyone’s intake since based on the photos, anyone would find the event magical. The event is also entirely free and welcome to anyone.

Documenting Baruch’s Candle Light Vigil:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19iU1rz2lCgwgHa5QGX8zSHHwVH3K4cDu693_IP54Nog/edit?usp=sharing