Multimedia Reporting

HOST INTRO: Unionization, strikes, and contract negotiations have been making headlines for months. Recently in New York City, two Barnes & Noble locations elected to unionize over the summer. The flagship store at Union Square and the high-earning Park Slope store, along with a few others across the country, have unionized and are currently negotiating their first contract. Valerie Conklin spoke to a representative of their union and some employees at other New York City branches that haven’t unionized to get their takes.

AMBI: Audio of a B&N transaction being completed. (FADE DOWN AS TRACK BEGINS)

TRACK: I just picked up Carlos Morales, a lead bookseller, from Barnes & Noble’s Upper West Side location. We’ve stopped in a nearby library so he can get away from his workplace for a while. Carlos looks around and points out the books he recommends to customers as we walk through the shelves and find a quiet spot to speak.

ACT: MORALES: “Working retail can be a little frustrating. Customers aren’t understanding, you have to be on your feet, you’re always looking for a book that’s like finding a needle in a haystack, so it’s a lot of stress.”

TRACK: When I ask Morales why he thinks Barnes and Noble Union Square unionized and not his own store. He points out the location’s proximity to the corporate office–they share a building–and the huge daily volume of customers numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

ACT: MORALES: “At Union Square, there’s a lot of stress from Management, from customers.” “Whoever is feeling really mistreated, that’s where it starts off and I don’t think all the stores are feeling it as much as Union Square.”

AMBI: Phone ringing. (END ABRUPTLY BEFORE TRACK BEGINS)

TRACK: The unionizing Barnes & Noble stores joined the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union. I have Chelsea Connor, National Director of Communications and Media Relations for the RWDSU, on the phone to discuss where Barnes & Noble is at in its negotiations. She tells me that working through the pandemic brought workers’ frustrations to a head.

ACT: CONNOR: Workers have experienced really what it has meant to be reopening amidst a pandemic. With that comes struggles.” “Customers who are not behaving properly. It comes with aggravation of customers who are returning to instore shopping.”

TRACK: Connor describes the difference between the stores that have unionized and those that haven’t.

ACT: CONNOR: “That’s not to say that other stores aren’t organizing, it’s just that those two stores are ready and moved and workers were able to file earlier this year.”

TRACK: Other workers at Morales’s Upper West Side location tell me they haven’t been contacted by anyone planning to unionize. One senior barista says he wouldn’t want to join a union anyway because organizing requires a lot of extra work. For now, the stores that needed it most are negotiating their first contract with Barnes & Noble. For Baruch College, I’m Valerie Conklin.

Host intro: With immigration to New York City currently surging, there are many people in search of community and opportunities. Saturday Night Lights, a free soccer program every Friday and Saturday night in East Harlem, aims to provide both. Kimberly Molina-Soto spoke to one of SNL’s coaches about the work they do to bring kids together for a free game of futbol, and potentially provide future jobs for them or their parents. 

AMBI: Players communicating on the field

Track: I am here at Saturday Night Lights (SNL) in East Harlem where the lights shine bright over the gray dull field where you hear kids laughing and calling out for the ball to score a goal. I am with Brady Molina, a head coach for the program looking towards the field where kids from various Latin American countries are playing. He says for them, language barriers haven’t been an issue. 

ACT: Once you understand and learn how to play soccer, soccer is a language so even though they might not know how to speak English and other people may not know how to speak in Spanish. As long as they can speak soccer they fit in very perfectly well because they feel very connected adapt to the new environment. 

TRACK: Molina himself joined SNL at the age of 14 and eventually became a coach himself. 

ACT: Me being a participant to a coach, to the coaches it’s like a revelation like  wow I really influenced Brady to be a coach.

TRACK: But SNL aims to open up more opportunities for its players than coaching alone. Maria Ramirez was a participant of the program who worked with New York City Football Club and was a part of the youth leadership council.  

ACT: Which is a group where we were invited to apply and if accepted it would bring around 15 to 18 young leaders from different community programs to further our involvement in the community. By allowing us to organize different soccer related workshops, festivals and events. 

TRACK: Maria also highlights some of the other opportunities SNL has given to her

ACT: For example, three of us we able to join a Bloomberg start up program that aimed to teach us Python the coding language. Which later helped me realize how much I actually like coding and it let me further explore that in college and consequently major in Web Design.

TRACK: Both Brady and Maria have used what they learn to continue to motivate the youth and understand the importance of giving back to the community. 

ACT: I think what motivates me is the energy you really learn something new every day. Sports also brings out the true side of a person even if they are not academically good in school but when it comes to soccer, they are a whole different person and they bring out their true colors. 

(MARIA) I can’t speak for all of us when I say this but it definitely helped me develop stronger leadership skills and overall more confidence in life. It makes me realize that giving back to our community is imperative.

TRACK: There has been an increase of Immigrant families coming to New York City. According to The New York Times, “As of mid-October, more than 130,600 migrants had arrived in New York City… people from all over the world have arrived, sometimes by the thousands each week.” With immigrant families coming into the city the program has grown in numbers.

ACT: I am lucky that I speak Spanish and English although it is kind of difficult for me too because there are certain Spanish words that I do not know. For example, I didn’t know how to say push-ups when I first started but once I explained the momentum and movement, they told me what it was, in Spanish its “lagartijas” and got it right away. 

TRACK: Although there is a slight language barrier the kids still understand other forms of language such as movements and demonstrations which makes it easier for immigrant kids to understand and get involved. 

TRACK: With the Saturday Night Lights program running they are always welcoming new players and people with no experience the program at the moment is looking for a female head coach for the girls site. For Baruch College this is Kimberly Molina-Soto.  

https://medium.com/@chantalgreen03/the-future-of-law-36ab69edfa78

Host Intro: The average rent in NYC is at an all time high right now, with many people being pushed out of Manhattan and the more expensive parts of Brooklyn ever deeper into the outer boroughs. One neighborhood that is currently absorbing a large chunk of this migration and experiencing rapid gentrification as a result, is Ridgewood, Queens. Cali Snyder spoke with some transplants and longtime Ridgewood residents to get a sense of how the neighborhood is changing.

AMBI: Punching in the code to enter an apartment. 

TRACK: I’m here with Jacob Eufemia in Ridgewood, Queens. He lives on the upper east side, but is intrigued with Ridgewood because his rent in Manhattan is increasing.

ACT: Jacob: My rent was actually increased in the summer over $300 dollars. Which is actually insane. So what I’ve found I’ve had to do is definitely manage my money better.

TRACK: His interest was sparked as he made the trek to Ridgewood, a piece of NYC that he does not frequent. He explains living in Ridgewood is more affordable but it also poses a threat to the community that was here first. 

ACT: Jacob: At the rate of gentrification in NYC you can look at Brooklyn and you can look at Queens, Queens is literally getting gentrified, the Bronx is gonna get gentrified. 

TRACK: It feels as if the rise in rent is slowly kicking everyone out of Manhattan, forcing people to move into more affordable boroughs. 

ACT: Jacob: No one in their right mind could afford a place in Manhattan living off of minimum wage. 

AMBI: Subway stopping

TRACK: I am joined by Krisstal Ramirez, on the corner of Summerfield Street and Wycoff. She has been in Ridgewood for a year, but lived in Bushwick before. She has had firsthand experience of gentrification.

ACT: Krisstal: I mean things have gotten really expensive especially with the recession we’re on right now and people moving from other different places. It has increased the cost of living. 

TRACK: While living in Bushwick, gentrification was present in Krisstal’s life too.

ACT: Krisstal: They told us that they were gonna rent the places, they were gonna renovate the spaces and they were gonna increase the rent. We could have stayed with the new owner, but the rent was gonna increase, so the landlord was nice enough to take us where she wanted us to move, which was Ridgewood.

AMBI: Cars driving by

TRACK: Nick Krueck, stopped while walking his dog. He is also a new resident of Ridgewood.

ACT: Nick:  In Ridgewood, I’ve only lived here for 10 months, I’ve been in Bushwick for 10 years.

TRACK: He explains his reasoning for moving here, which has seemed to be a common theme for the new Ridgwoodians. 

ACT: Nick: It’s just an apartment that we liked and was in a, I say this loosely, reasonable price range.

TRACK: He has experienced, first hand, the demographic change of Ridgewood. 

ACT: Nick:  I work at a Bar off of the Myrtle Wyckoff stop, and our demographics just changed. A lot of the transplants in the neighborhood are younger kids and that’s going to change the demographic, gonna change the scene, gonna change people’s wants and stuff like that. 

TRACK: The original demographic of Ridgewood was mainly German immigrants in 1908, as time went on a large Hispanic population resided in Ridgewood. While Ridgewood has been a historically family centered area, it has now shifted to an influx of young hipsters. 

ACT: Nick:  You know I do feel like more people could be part of the community that are moving in here and making an effort to support the people that have been here for 20-30 years, and learning about them and their stories. 

AMBI: Train leaving. 

TRACK: Just a couple blocks away, a luxury apartment building was put on the market in September, and a Burlington coat factory is scheduled to open this fall. Gentrification is happening in Ridgewood right before our eyes. For Baruch College, this is Cali Snyder.

Script:

HOST INTRO: If one thing is certain, it’s that New Yorkers love dogs. They’re everywhere, yet there doesn’t seem to be many places for them to run around and let their boundless energy out. It’s estimated that there are close to 600,000 dogs in New York. However, there are only 138 dog parks across the five boroughs. After a bit of long division, that comes out to 4,347 dogs per dog park. 

AMBI: dogs barking and park noise.

TRACK: Dogs need to run, they need to socialize with other four-legged creatures and the only place they can be off the leash is the park. I asked Rita Vera, Jed Butler, and Savannah Gonzalez; three New Yorkers at Madison Square Park how often they bring their companions to the dog run.

ACT: Rita: Every two days. 

         Jed: Twice a day. Pretty much religious every day. 

         Savannah: Every day. 

TRACK: Rita, the caretaker of Luna the Cattle Dog, Jed, the caretaker of Mercedes the Mini Lab, and Savannah, the caretaker of Josh an Irish Setter all feel as though Madison Square Park is often quite crowded.

ACT: Rita: I don’t like it when it’s too full. I don’t like to come when it’s too many dogs because she’s too jealous of me and will stay by my side. 

Jed: On the weekends, it’s really crowded. Sometimes I’m like oh my god. 

Savannah: On the weekends or in the summer it’s very crowded. 

TRACK: Despite the crowds drawn to the dog parks, it isn’t always at 4,000 dogs all the time. If it were, there would be a major issue. At that number it wouldn’t even be a dog run anymore, it’d be a dog pile.

ACT: Jed: Not all dogs are equipped to handle the dog park either like they are older and don’t like to be picked on or played with. Some dogs don’t need it, but other dogs like her do she has a lot of energy. 

TRACK: Rita travels from the Bronx frequently to come to the dog parks of Manhattan, but she mainly goes to Madison Square Park.

ACT: Rita: I come here or Union Square but at Union Square, they have sand as the ground and Luna had an allergic reaction to it. She was itching, itching her paw, and had a blister and we had to take her to the veterinarian. 

TRACK: Savannah and Jed both think that more dog parks would be beneficial to the city.

ACT: Jed: I mean I think we need more, that’d be better. But um, where I live it’s pretty good because there’s one that I take her to in the morning. Between 26^th and 28^th on First Ave. Then in the afternoon, I bring her here. 

Savannah: I wish there were more dog parks. 

TRACK: The city is compact, and there are a lot of dogs. If you or your furry friend don’t like the crowds at the parks, there are private runs for a more peaceful outing. It’ll cost you though, some memberships reach into the couple thousands. For Baruch College, I’m Jack Van Hecke.

AMBI: Dog park sounds and barks.

Radio Reporting Script

HOST INTRO:
New York has evolved exponentially over recent years, but one area where it has devolved is out on the roads. With the growing driver population, recent studies and statistics have reflected an increase in reckless temperaments behind the wheel and road rage incidents. Societal changes like gentrification, the migration of new and old New Yorkers back to the city, and a surplus in gig economy jobs like delivery and ride-share services are just a few of the causes to blame for this enduring issue. Cameron Modeste cruised around with some native New Yorkers to find out how these developments have changed the way they drive.

AMBI:
HONKING

TRACK:
Road rage, it’s an issue that has become far too common on New York roads, it’s practically become a rite of passage for new drivers.  Road rage is something we see from time to time and may experience ourselves but for 76-year-old Jacqueline John,  a retired homemaker from  Queens who has been driving on NYC streets for over 40 years, she feels like the issue of road rage has only gotten worse, as she finds the roads a bit intimidating these days, especially after dark.

ACT: JACQUELINE:
I don’t like driving at night anymore and plus the highways either because 40 years ago there wasn’t that much vehicles on the road and cars wasn’t speeding like they do now. Everybody seems like they’re in a hurry.

TRACK:
New Yorkers have had to change the way they approach their commutes completely, to avoid any incidents, issues, or possible hindrances on the road. According to data provided by the TomTom Traffic Index, New York drivers find themselves stuck in traffic for an estimate of 236 hours (10 full days) annually. With school back in session the roads become an even more complicated obstacle for commuters. A sentiment emphasized by 50-year-old elementary school teacher Roxanne John, who has been driving in NYC for 26 years.

ACT: ROXANNE:
I don’t like to drive on those busy streets, those crazy streets when it’s overcrowded because I don’t drive as fast as other people. That’s why I leave early in the morning, to go to work, when there’s less cars on the road and I can get to my destination without any problems.

TRACK
A study conducted by Colorado State University found that raging drivers are more likely to take risks on the road. The study found that “High-anger drivers” are more likely to go 10 to 20 mph over the speed limit, rapidly switch lanes, tailgate, and enter an intersection even when the light turns red. 8-year Lyft driver Jeremiah Harewood admits he himself has been susceptible to road rage over the years, but he’s working on it and maneuvering around this obstacle on our roads.

ACT: JEREMIAH:
Sitting in traffic in general is irritating, so it definitely causes me to do a lot more, you know…”illegal shit,” let’s just put it like that. I feel like everybody got back on the roads, there’s even more drivers now than there was. When I was younger I used to drive with less care, I’m not going to lie I was ruthless, and I would do a lot of things. I ain’t doing all those things I would do when I was younger. Now don’t get it twisted, I will still do my thing, but there’s certain things now that I used to do that I know I wouldn’t do, its just not sensible.

TRACK:
Road rage is a driver error, it’s never the road’s fault only the drivers. But for Native New Yorkers like Jacqueline, Roxanne, and Jeremiah who aren’t willing to give up their commutes because of the issues on the road, they’ve come up with their own tricks for avoiding these problems.

ACT:
JACQULINE: The best thing to avoid any road rage if somebody does something wrong or they curse at you, is to just ignore them, that’s it.

ROXANNE: You need to watch everybody and be cautious for everybody, not just yourself. Just have more consideration on the road and we will have more peace.

JEREMIAH: Just pay attention; Gotta look all around you even though you can’t really look all around you just gotta use all your mirrors. You got a car with some new features, you better leave all those safety stuff on, if you do not know what you’re doing because anything can happen.

TRACK: CLOSING:
Beginning as soon as May 2024, the city plans on imposing congestion pricing; Which will an cause an estimated 15-20 percent reduction in the number of vehicles entering Manhattan, charging commuters between $5 during low-demand hours and up to $23 during rush hour. The idea is that this will combat overcrowding and issues like road rage incidents. Only time will tell.
For Baruch College, I am Cameron Modeste

Bibliography/Sources

I.Psychology of increased road rage: What you can do if you encounter an angry driver – CBS Colorado
II.Driving Behavior and Road Rage in 2023 | The Zebra
III.Where New York York State Ranks For Acts Road Rage in U.S.
IV.States With The Most Confrontational Drivers 2023 – Forbes Advisor
V.Return of ‘insane’ NYC traffic driving commuters crazy
VI.New Yorkers are most road rage-y drivers in U.S., study says
VII.The fast and the furious
VIII.30 Shocking Road Rage Statistics for Drivers
IX.Road Rage Shootings Are Continuing to Surge | Everytown Research & Policy