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Archives for August 2014

Into the Abyss of History – Blood Feuds

August 7, 2014 by MISHEL KONDI

From Kukës to New York Blood Feuds Prevail

As the dawn breaks in the capital city of Albania, Tirana, a nightmare is interrupted by the inception of a new one. From a life in isolation to a life in the greatest democracy in the world, blood feuds remain in existence, and more violent than ever.

The Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation (in Tirana, Albania) estimates that since the transition from communism, nearly 22 years ago, approximately 10,000 people have lost their lives as a result of blood feuds. In addition, another couple of thousand have sought asylum in foreign lands, many of whom have reached the shores of the United States.

No different is the case of the undocumented Brooklyn resident, S.S, who with inheriting the property of his grandfather inherited the shame, the guilt, and the conflict of blood feud for a crime he did not commit.

Blood feuds are based on a set of traditional laws from the 15th Century, the Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, that contain the edict, “spilled blood must be met with spilled blood,” as a victim stated for the German news outlet Spiegel. The Kanun is a prevailing system of justice in rural parts of northern Albania, focusing on family honor, yet defining it through an antiquated perspective, which follows a killing with another retributive killing.

The dispute that forced S.S and his family into isolation dates back to his ancestors. After Albania’s independence in 1912, his ancestors moved to Tirana for better opportunities. The property they left behind in the small town of Kukës was unjustly occupied by other townspeople. In an attempt to resolve the issue, S.S’s grandfather paid a trip to the town.

The negotiations failed, and the people turned to firearms for answers.

Without intending to end a life, S.S’s grandfather shot a blind bullet, leaving a man lifeless, and marking the start of a blood feud, that would in fact begin nearly half a century later.

In 1997, as Albania’s transition from a 50 year old communist system was entering a critical point, the army’s weapons’ depots were pillaged by citizens, and to this day only a small fraction of the weapons has been recovered. In a state of anarchy, the people turned to the primeval system of justice, the Kanun, which led to the restoration of the legitimacy of blood feuds.

Thus, at 34, S.S was left with the choices to seclude himself for the rest of his life, or accept death.

To his luck, his two children were girls. In the Kanun laws, women and children are untouchable by the vendettas.

With the rival clan living in the small town of Kukës, S.S felt no present danger in Tirana, which was a more modern place, and considerably far. However, this would change once the rival clan moved to the capital city.

The family of S.S. would spare nothing if it meant reconciliation and forgiveness of blood. Many times they offered money and land to the rival clan, but at all times the propositions were violently refused.

The economically challenged family then took an even greater risk and funded an illegal trip for S.S.
After providing approximately $20,000 to human traffickers, S.S was smuggled into Montenegro, and Slovenia. Then, he reached Germany where he received an illegal passport with which he entered the United States, in 2003.

In the United States, he reported this story to the authorities and was given an asylum. Since that day he has been waiting for the U.S government to confirm his story and provide him with documents which will one day make him a U.S citizen, eligible to reunite with his family which still lives in Albania.

While the United States has been a “safe haven” for him, S.S has not seen his wife and children in 11 years. The support of the U.S government has made his adjustment manageable, but the danger prevails. New York has a large Albanian community and if word spreads of his situation, who knows what vengeance can spark in the rival clan who lives close to his wife and two daughters in Albania.

The Kanun states that women and children cannot be murdered. Lately however, the mandate that blood must be avenged with blood has been interpreted loosely. In 2012, the streets of Tirana were filled with protesters after a 17- year-old daughter to an isolated family lost her life in a blood feud.

S.S has never rested. He constantly tries to bring his wife and two daughters to the United States in the same manner he, himself, arrived, – illegally. In 2009, he purchased another set of three falsified passports from human traffickers for $30,000. His efforts proved futile, for his family was stopped in Italy and returned to Albania.

When asked if he ever considers going back to Albania S.S proclaims, “I am planning to bring my family here in the U.S and then move from New York. Here I have to be extra cautious, and I would like a place that is quieter if you know what I mean. But, I could never go back there, I would never go back.”

In Tirana, his family receives only $72 a month, in the form of government assistance. This amount is not enough for a semi-comfortable life. If S.S were employed, he could send financial support to his family. However, considering he must remain in isolation, he can only be employed temporarily.

S.S’s battles against a living death do not represent an isolated phenomenon. It occurs in Albania where 2,000 families are currently in isolation, but it persists in the United States, and precisely in New York City.

Across the ocean and in hiding, he states, “Nowhere is safe.”

Filed Under: News, News Tagged With: Blood Feuds, Forgiveness of Blood, Kukës, New York Blood Feuds, Northern Albania, Vendetta

Madison Square Park: A Break from the City

August 7, 2014 by JUSTIN MORALES

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“ It’s a break from the city” said Deena Ecker

Madison Square Park is located in the Flatiron District. This is one of the parks that people call unique. People believe it’s unique  because there are always free concerts going on or some type of event for the people to enjoy with their friends or family.

Kids love being here. They love to play in the park and be free for a short time. Alison Dalton, age 3, said “I love the swings!”

This is just one of the many things kids enjoy about the park. The park also has sprinklers that help cool down the children during a hot summer day.  “ I love the sprinklers too” said Alison

The park recently opened a new grass area where summer camps bring kids to play sports and other summer games. The summer camp kids play sports such as football and soccer.

Madison Square Park also has a dog park that allows people to bring their dogs to the park and lets the dogs enjoy themselves with other dogs. This gives people with pets time to relax outside in the beautiful weather while their dog plays. This is a great way for their dogs to exercise.

Every day hundreds of people go through the park, most of them stopping for lunch or relaxing watching the children play.

Deena Ecker comes often. ” I have been working around here for a month and I come here everyday for lunch,” she said. “I wouldn’t change anything about the park expect the tables. There need to be more tables,”

There are  always sculptures by artists throughout the park. This benefits both the park and the artist because the sculptures make people want to come into the park and learn more, while the artist gets their name out into the world.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: madison

Elizabeth Center Shops are Closing

August 7, 2014 by BONNIE CHEN

The Elizabeth Center is one of the most popular indoor malls in Chinatown, located on 13 Elizabeth Street. This used to be a place for young people, mostly teenagers, to hang out and shop with their friends. In fact, many people have a lot of childhood memories in this mall. Unfortunately, most of the shops are now closing.

The 20 shops in the basement mostly sell products that capture young people’s attention, such as stuffed animals, accessories, anime and manga. Many are upset now that 11 of those stores that sell those products are closed for approximately a year or two mainly due to a lack of business and high rents.

Amanda Chan, a rising freshmen at LaGuardia High School, said, “There is a store that use to sell a lot of manga, but it closed.”

A teenage female said, “I don’t feel so happy because all the cute stores are closing.” One example of the stores she referred to sold accessories and pairings, which are products that come in a pair, such as love necklaces and bracelets. Now, it is closed and became a store that sells very expensive clothes and sneakers.

Her friend, also a teenage female, said, “The store that sold all the food sets closed.”

Another teenager female said her favorite store was the anime store, but it is no longer in existence. “It’s the only store that had what I wanted. Now, I don’t know where to shop anymore.”

Many also said they came here all the time in the past, when most of the shops were opened. Now, they feel nostalgic about that. Furthermore, many do not find a purpose in coming to this mall anymore with their friends to hang out or meet up since most of the shops are closed.

A young male also said, “All my life had been a certain way and now it’s different. There is a force of habit. Every time I come here, I expect to see anime, videogames and figurines.”

His friend, Marco, said, “We usually come here once a week. Now, we don’t even come here anymore since all the stores are closed.”

Toby said, “It’s pretty ashamed. I came here a lot since I was little. I have a lot of childhood memories here.”

“I think it’s quite sad because when I was in middle school, I came here a lot. I never bought anything, but I browsed around. Looking back, I feel nostalgic,” Herman said.

Cindy also said that The Elizabeth Center use to be a meeting place for her friends, but now that all the shops are closed, they don’t come to the mall anymore.

Sharon feels sad because she comes to New York City from New Jersey just for this mall. Browsing around this mall was her favorite pastime.

“It is kind of sad because this place use to be really filled and it’s fun to come down here. Half of your childhood is gone,” Linda, an employee of a shop, said.

When asked if she was worried about her workplace closing down, she said, “I’m not sure if it will close, but the rent is high and it is hard to keep up with the rent. In one day, we have to sell a lot of things to pay for the rent.” The store she currently works in use to be a game store, but now it sells yarn, stickers, and phone cases. This is one example of a shop that took over a shop that closed 2 years ago.

Even though most of the shops are closed, people still come by to hang out with their friends, browse around, and to recall the memorable moments they had in this mall.

Filed Under: Manhattan, News

Champions Out Of Brooklyn

August 7, 2014 by DAVID SACK

            Deep in the heart of Brooklyn, there is a basketball team that has been a consistent champion, and you’ve probably never heard of them.

            The men’s basketball program at LIU-Brooklyn won three Northeast Conference Championships in a row from 2011-2013, and earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament as well.

            LIU plays their home games at the relatively new Steinberg Wellness Center, where the team moved after playing for decades at the old Brooklyn Paramount Theater.  The sparkling new gym played a big part in LIU’s success according to Nelson Castillo, a writer for Blackbirds Hoops Journal, which undoubtedly has the most in-depth coverage of LIU basketball. “Once they were able to move to their current home, they were able to consistently land quality players and help build a program that can stay competitive year after year,” Castillo said.

Castillo also believes that the few home games that LIU gets to play every year in the even newer Barclays Center draws fans and recruits as well.

            Once LIU was able to attract quality players from outside New York, they were on their way to a dynasty.

            One of these quality players was Jason Brickman, the star point guard who anchored all three championships, and played his last game in an LIU uniform this year. Brickman came all the way from San Antonio, as part of a Texas pipeline that was built by former LIU coach Jim Ferry, and has continued under current head coach Jack Perri. The pipeline also brought in other important players such as Julian Boyd, Kenny Onyechi, and EJ Reed.

            Speaking about his recruiting trip that he went on five years ago, Brickman said that he was “excited to be in New York,” and also stated “Brooklyn is a great area that is continuing to grow and get more popular.” There is no doubt that as Brooklyn and more specifically Fort Greene has grown, the program at LIU has grown.  

            In his 4 years at LIU, Brickman dazzled on the court, making assist after assist, and by his senior year, the basketball world knew he had a chance for 1,000 career assists. Despite the team’s disappointing 2013-2014 season, Brickman became the 4th player in NCAA history to accomplish the feat.

            Even though the last game of the season had no meaning for LIU, as they were buried in 9th place in the Northeast Conference and mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the NEC Tournament, the Steinberg Wellness Center was packed as many basketball fans wanted to see Brickman attempt to get assist number 1,000. He walked off the court one last time to a standing ovation, and after the game many fans lined up on the court to meet Brickman.

            “I had no idea there were so many people who came to watch me reach the milestone of 1,000 assists. Even though we lost the game it felt like we had just won a championship,” said Brickman. Brickman garnered national attention for the feat, receiving congratulations from all over the country from the likes of commentators such as Jay Bilas.

Brickman’s impressive four years at LIU have led to a spot on a professional team in Russia, Dynamo Moscow.

            And while Brickman and his teammates are grateful to the Brooklyn fans, the fans of Brooklyn feel the same way about the team.

            Phil Butleman, a Brooklyn resident and fan of the LIU basketball team has “had the pleasure of watching this team win three consecutive NEC championships.” Butleman also likes the “great view” of the game at the Steinberg Wellness Center, as well as the close proximity to Junior’s Restaurant.

            Right now the connection between the fans and the team is very strong, as the team has been among the lead leaders in attendance according to an article written by Castillo on his blog. But coming off a tough 9-20 season, and without the attraction of Brickman, it will be interesting to see if LIU can continue to draw large crowds this season. Castillo says that for the connection with the fans to grow, that the team will have to stay “consistent and competitive year after year.”

Filed Under: Brooklyn, Sports Tagged With: Basketball, Blackbirds, Brooklyn, Jason Brickman, LIU

IHOP in Jackson Heights Will Reopen

August 7, 2014 by ARNOLD ORELLANA

   

On May last year a fire broke out in the most beloved restaurant in Jackson Heights, IHOP. Every weekend people would wait inside and outside just to dine in IHOP and during the week. It wouldn’t have the same attendance as the weekend but will still have IHOP pretty full. IHOP ruined a lot of businesses near it.

But IHOP may face a lot of difficulties when it reopens. Jaxx dinner, which is  right across the street, got renovated about a year ago. It needed to get renovated so it could keep its customers. Then, IHOP  burned down, and Jaxx dinner took advantage.

IHOP is in the center of the urban area. A lot of people like Susan Garcia use to dine at IHOP, She said, “My husband and my two kids miss IHOP, We would go there every weekend after church mass.” Steven Guncay another local resident near IHOP said, ” Even though I really didn’t go to IHOP as much, every time my daughter would visit me from Chicago, we would go to IHOP and have a really great time.”

One of the workers working on the construction of the new IHOP said, “The new IHOP that is currently building is  going to be a new experience for customers dining at IHOP.”

Many people like Susan miss IHOP and want it to open as soon as possible.

Rumors say that IHOP will open in late summer when the fall is coming and people want something sweet in the cold. The worker from IHOP said, “I think they could’ve finished faster but their insurance took really long and couldn’t get work started.” This was probably due to the inspection that needed to take place to see whether the old building needed to demolished .

Many people said that there will be a lot of competition for Jaxx when IHOP will opens up again. A local resident, Morcos Guillermo. said, “ Completion will be very crucial.”

IHOP is in a very good place because it’s in the center of a very busy boulevard that is Northern Boulevard. Every 5 minutes, over 100 cars pass by IHOP. Despite that, IHOP will have a lot of difficulties grabbing their clients back to eat at IHOP.

Filed Under: News

Hot Mug Shot Introduces a New Celebrity

August 7, 2014 by D ANGELOU GRANT

jeremy-meeks-mug-shot-400x330            Many are blind to those who appear to be physically attractive. The handsome Jeremy Meeks, with blue eyes and high cheekbones. has gained attention from his mug shot. Almost everyone on social media knows the face of Jeremy Meeks because his mug shot went viral within hours.

 In Northern California, the 30 year old was arrested, along with 3 other men, for possessing a semi-automatic Springs-field pistol. He was also charged with gang related crimes. He has a criminal background, due to his conviction of grand theft in 2002.  His recent possession of the gun was a violation of his parole.  

He is described to be one of the most dangerous criminals in Stockton, California. Meeks was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years. He currently is at the Joaquin Valley jail and will be transferred to the federal detention center. His bail has been set to 900,000, but will this be a problem for Meek?

             Meeks’ mug shot went viral when it was posted on Facebook by Stockton Police department. His picture managed to receive more than 33,000 likes, 10,400 comments and shared more than 3,300 times. According to Joseph Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department, “I have not seen that many likes on a photo before.”

Many ladies on Facebook seem to be obsessed with Meeks’ unusual appearance and left comments like,

“I have handcuffs ;)”

“I volunteer for cell mate”

“Is it illegal to be that sexy?”

Meeks is a father and a husband. His family and friends are furious about the type of publicity and comments that he is receiving because of this mug shot.

            Social media is not the only place where Meeks’ appearance is admired.  Hollywood agent, Gina Rodriguez is now Meeks’ agent. She told ABC News that he could potentially earn from $3,000 to $100,000 a month as a model. Rodriguez also said that she plans on branding him as a high fashion model and getting him a reality TV show.

            People fail to realize that this man is a felon with a family. Everyone seems too be more interested in his looks, instead of his transgressions. Many praise him as if he has done something great. It is not fair that he is being publicized because he is a criminal with charming looks. He is receiving opportunities that prisoners are not usually given.

            On June 19th, Meeks’ response to reporters was “Well I appreciate the attention but I just want them to know that this is really not me, I’m not some kingpin.” He refers to the people who are not his fans and believe that he belongs in jail. He does not want people outside of prison to view him as a convict, like the media portrays him.

            He may not be a “Kingpin” but a gun was still found in his possession, which he is not supposed to have, being  it violates his parole. He has to do the time just like every other person who violates his or her parole.

            Meeks’ mother, Katherine Angrier feels that he is being stereotyped because of his tattoos. He has a teardrop tatted on his face, which is related to his past gang relations. Tatted teardrops mean that the wearer has murdered someone. He claims that he is not proud of this tattoo because of how he is depicted. His fans tend to find these characteristics appealing.

           Meeks’ mother started fundraising on Gofundme.com. She posted pictures of Meek and his family to show people that he is the opposite of what he is portrayed as in the media.  So far she has received $2500 in donations from supporters for bail.

 

 

Filed Under: Commentary

Mysterious Death at Baruch College

August 7, 2014 by JALEESA ROBINSON

Usually when someone is interested in a death that happened in a school, they’re able to find out what and how it happened with either the click of a mouse, watching a news report, or by looking at a news article. In this case, that was not possible.

On May 19, a Baruch College freshman Kevin Manirampa, was found dead on the fourth floor terrace in the 17 Lexington building around 3 pm. The Baruch online newspaper The Ticker stated that police reports show he jumped off the roof and then landed on the fourth floor terrace in the building. Many online newspapers reported Manirampa’s death to be a suicide.

Manirampa was 20 years old coming from Staten Island to Baruch College everyday. His death occurred during finals week.

But the oddity about Manirampa’s death is that the details someone is able to find are limited. Police and school officials refused to release any information on it. Baruch College Campus also did not return calls or emails to reporters wishing to investigate the death.

Online articles and broadcast on television only state basic facts that are already known. Even interviewing students and staff members at Baruch College did not help. A Baruch College student and her supervisor were in the Student Life Offices and when asked questions on the death, the college student appeared as though she was ready to tell what she knew until her supervisor quickly interrupted saying, “No we can’t talk to you about it.”

Walking around asking students on campus about the death was equally unsuccessful. Either the students didn’t know who he was and are only taking classes at Baruch for the summer, or they work in the offices around campus and aren’t allowed to talk about it.

But that also brings up another question. How come no one knew of Manirampa? There were no close friends who spoke of him or knew him personally. Or was it that his close friends didn’t want to discuss his death? When being interviewed by the press, students stated that they didn’t know him, but were shaken by his death. Some also said that it was probably the pressure of finals that got to him. Reports don’t even show where he was or what he was doing hours before his death.

Manirampa’s death was handled differently than other deaths that occurred at Baruch. For instance, a prior death related to hazing at Baruch received massive attention. Everyone knew what happened, how it happened and who the student was, whether or not they went to Baruch. It was all over the news and in the papers. So, why was it so different for this death?

Filed Under: News

Gentrifying One Block at a Time

August 7, 2014 by JASON LI

“Everything is just shutting down in this neighborhood,” said Solon Ramirez, a local resident.

This has been a common complaint among New Yorkers in Hell’s Kitchen. Owners of local shops were forced to close and pack their belongings to make room for a flashy 38-story hotel.

Hell’s Kitchen is located between 34th Street and 59th Street. Once a low-rise community, it has come to be known as “Clinton” because “Clinton” sounds more modern and the name reflects the sleek, new buildings dominating the area.

Although Hell’s Kitchen has been gentrifying since the 1970s, locals were very disappointed to hear that a city block of markets was forced to move elsewhere during the past two months.

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Photo Credit: DNA Info
MARKET “MEATS” END: The Big Apple Meat Market was relocated at the end of January.

The first victim was the Big Apple Meat Market located on the corner of 41st and 9th Avenue. It had been open for more than two decades and has become a local favorite because of its cheap, good quality meats and other food.

“That’s why I like this place; you get cheap and good food,” said Edward Montilla, who was a regular shopper at that market.

When the market was abruptly closed at the end of January to make room for the New York Hotel, a message from the store was posted on the door.

“I tried everything but at the end we have to move on,” wrote Pat Maddalena, the manager of the meat market.

When locals heard about this news, they were very disappointed. They complained how everyone would have to buy groceries at the Food Emporium and that it would be constantly crowded.

“Now, I have to buy my meats in the Food Emporium and it’s going to be like a war zone inside,” said Michael McKee.

“The Emporium could only do so much,” said Raul Garcia.

One month later, the relocated meat market opened again. The new location is located at 39th Street and 9th Avenue, which is about two blocks away from the original location. However, according to locals, they said it doesn’t see to have the same success as before.

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Photo Credit: Scu Monkey
OUT OF DOUGH: 99¢ Fresh Pizza was relocated this February, just weeks after the meat market was closed.

The second victim was next to the meat market, the 99¢ Fresh Pizza. Like the Big Apple Meat Market, it also was an old-time favorite. It has opened for at least a decade.

“That pizza place was amazing, it was the ideal hangout place after school. The service was quick and the people that worked there was really friendly,” said Daniel Das, a regular customer of the place.

Just weeks after the Meat Market was moved, the pizzeria suffered a similar fate. The pizzeria closed but announced that it will relocate one avenue away.

Today, the pizzeria is experiencing the same amount of success as before but some locals, particularly students said they couldn’t stick around as much as before because of the close proximity to other residential and office buildings occupying the area.

“I can’t hang out there anymore because people from the residential building next to the pizza place don’t want kids blocking their entrance,” said Jay Williams.

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Photo Credit: New York Serious Seats
FARMER’S LAST STAND: The beloved farmers market was forced to close. Like its neighbors, it will make way for the new hotel.

But the biggest blow for residents in Hell’s Kitchen was the closing of the Stiles Farmers Market, which was between the meat market and the pizzeria.

The market had been open for 26 years and has gained a remarkable reputation as one of the most popular markets in the neighborhood.

But at the end of February, it was forced to close and was purchased by the Friedman & Landis Group who will use the property as space for the new hotel.

“Best kept neighborhood secret; extremely sad to hear the place is closing for good,” said Kirsten Smith, a regular shopper at the farmers market.

“This was the last cheap place around town,” said Sumto Samin.

Stiles has another location ten blocks away but some shoppers won’t be able to shop as often because it’s too far away.

Regulars who shopped at the original Stiles location noticed that the fruits and vegetables the other location sells aren’t as fresh.

“Not the same as the one near Port Authority. The prices are the same but the produce isn’t,” said Brandon Chang.

Today, local residents still feel the impact of the closed stores. Some have move on while others tried to get people to sign a petition, hoping to reverse the future hotel’s plans. However, they had little success.

“There’s nothing we can do but just watch the neighborhood change before our very eyes,” said Michael McKee.

Filed Under: Manhattan, News Tagged With: Clinton, Gentrificaton, Hell's Kitchen, manhattan, Markets

Big Apple Ranked #1: What for?

August 7, 2014 by MISHEL KONDI

“The Big Apple” has once more been proclaimed the number one city in the World, but this time it is for a less than flattering reason: rodent infestation. The website Animal Planet, in 2012, created a list of the “Top 10 Worst Rat Cities in the World,” and New York City ranked number 1.

We are dealing with a rodent control issue, and it is incontrovertibly a multi factored one. All five boroughs are impacted and included. Nevertheless, there are areas that are more severely infested than others. In 2014, The Gothamist, a local New York City news outlet published a map which locates the living rats:

The areas colored in yellow or light orange are also infested by rats, simply “less severely.” Nowhere is safe.

Quick Shocking Fact: In the building where diplomacy is in action, the rats discuss their issues too. Even the United Nations Headquarters has suffered from rat infestations.

According to the writer of the New York Times bestseller “Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants,” Robert Sullivan states, “It is estimated that NYC has twice as many rats as it has humans, which would mean approximately 16 million rats.”

This is not the most disturbing fact. Sullivan goes on to say, “There are more rats infected with the bubonic plague in North America, than there were in Europe at the time of the Black Death.”

To once more point to startling intelligence, female rats can have up to 15,000 descendants in one year. The bestselling author states, “A dominant male rat can mate with up to 20 female rats in just six hours.”

He says, “They [mice/rats] are adept at climbing, swimming, and yes, working their way through a serpentine of sewer pipes and exiting your toilet bowl.”

Unfortunately, this newsflash will not end the very alarming evidence of the danger that rat infestation evokes in our city. The author proclaims, “A third of the world’s food supply is consumed or destroyed by rats. Rats have eaten cadavers in the New York City’s Coroner’s office. Rats have attacked and killed homeless people sleeping on the streets of Manhattan.”

To put in perspective the seriousness of the issue and its far reaching effects Sullivan adds, “The Department of Homeland Security, as part of its post 9/11 bio-terrorism alertness effort, catches rats and inspects their fleas to see if terrorists have released the Black Death in New York City.”

The daily life of New Yorkers is challenged to new levels. Literally nowhere is safe.

To reserve a table in any restaurant, one would unconsciously share a meal with the mice, and pay a high price for it too. Even the most expensive restaurants are located in areas that share this very problem. It is true that more expensive restaurants might have a budget that can afford exterminators more frequently. So one might think that these restaurants are a safer way to go, but rodent infestation is constantly a threat, a threat for businesses and a threat for citizens. According to a Harvard University Graduate Study of 2013, in Manhattan, zip code area 10128, 74 out of 154 eateries are infested by rats.

The Health Inspection grading system has the primary objective of empowering the consumer by providing reliable information, and establishing an incentive for businesses to be more sanitary. In the long run, the goal is to fortify eateries from the dangerous rats. However, this has not been achieved.

The Health Inspectors are famous for their sternness. One of the finest and most expensive restaurants in the world, Per Se, received the grade C, CNN reported. In contrast, a Dunkin Donuts, in Ridgewood, Queens, one of the most severely rat infested areas, leaks all the garbage on the streets; receives witness based accusations from the community for its lack of sanitation, yet its grade is an A. Thus, the popular belief seems to be inaccurate.

The failure of the Health Inspection grading system makes its obvious that an overhaul is necessary. One reason for the system’s miscarriage is that it depends on individual inspectors who lack focused guidelines. This conflict, poor restaurant sanitation enables rats to roam everywhere and endanger the human settlement.

Artyom Matusov, a Legislative Policy Analyst at New York City Council stated, “We have a government agency that’s willing to blatantly lie to the public, if we cannot trust the health department to provide real scientific data … then we cannot trust any agency.”

If the City is to decimate its rat population, it is essential to tighten government action. However, that would not be nearly enough. The public is as essential.

Solutions are being implemented. The city financed $611,000, for a project that would bring 45 inspectors to neighborhood associations, community boards, elected officials, building owners, and businesses to plug holes and put poison in the rat holes and tunnels.

In addition, restaurants, other businesses, and even vacant buildings have owners, and those owners must be penalized in some form if they do not contribute to the effort of controlling rodent infestation.

The first step to implementing a sustainable solution has been completed by the work of Senator Bill de Perkins and the media, who published an interactive report on the rat issue. New Yorkers were asked to take a survey and reply to the question: “How often do you come into any form of contact with rats in the subway?” 87% of respondents said daily, and 80% described the situation to be severe or state of emergency.

To resolve the rodent infestation issue of New York the subway must remain in focus, because it is a hotspot for the rat population. It is where rats live, it is where rats reproduce.

Niels Bohr, a Nobel Prize physicist and philosopher once said, “Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it.” That certainly applies to this problem.

There are many possible solutions. One is to create a sustainable public education campaign to increase awareness, and bring to light the behavior of our citizens, which contributes to the increase of these unwanted inhabitants.

Another potential solution that might introduce controversy is banning eating on the subway, or establishing a fee for it, a fee that is equal to the fare. This would not be a direct ban, but to a large extent it would play the same role.

One other obvious solution is to require a better job from the Transit Maintenance Crew, expand this department, and increase the funds for better, new, and cleaner supplies. Perhaps every 24 hours the Transit Maintenance Crew could not merely pick up garbage, but also wash the platforms thoroughly. This in the long term could create more jobs.

Create a better system for littering throughout the city; citizens must seal their refuse before placing it in the cans.

In a comment on Senator Perkin’s survey, one citizen said, “I would like an experimental program to be conducted. Allow volunteers to have access to gloves, brooms and dustpans, to clean the platform while waiting for the train to arrive. I am sure there will be many who would participate.”

The city could certify a scientific research group to develop a chemical that could exterminate a large number of rats, and simultaneously be affordable. The government could then create teams of professionals to go to houses (with the citizens’ approval) to apply this extermination medicine.

Another anonymous citizen provided the idea of having a weekend shutdown for major extermination, with follow-ups and regular maintenance.

Upgrading the 100 years old transit system is another potential solution, placing strong lighting, painting the underground platforms in brighter colors, and implementing an eco-friendly cooling system. This will make New York City become the number one city in the world, and for a reason that can make all proud.

Solutions exist; the speed of their implementation must increase. The health concern is one that greatly endangers all. Rodent control is vital, the consequences would be too ghastly to discuss, for the danger is demonstrable and indisputable.

All must dig in, as Senator proclaimed, “YOU FEED THEM, YOU BREED THEM.”

Filed Under: Brooklyn, Commentary, Commentary and reviews, Lifestyles, Manhattan, News, Queens, The Bronx Tagged With: Big Apple, Mice/Rats, NYC #1, Rat Infestation, Rodent Infestation

Man Up And Stop Using Guns

August 7, 2014 by DASYA BECKUM

 

In the United States eevry year about 4.5 million firearms and 2 million handguns are sold.

The increase of gun violence needs to stop within our neighborhoods. Many do not see how it affects the streets of our neighborhoods as a whole, but it does in numerous ways.

More the 53 percent of teens’ deaths in New York are caused by homicides, and two thirds of those victims are black. The Health Department states that 200 kids ages 15 through 17 died from gunfire, more than any other cause of injury, between 2002 and 2011 in New York. This affects everyone, from the family and friends of the victim, to those of the shooter.

Most of these gun-related deaths take place in low income neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, where there have been 31 gun related deaths, High Bridge Morrisania in the Bronx where there were 16, and East Harlem which had nine deaths due to shootings in the past year.

This makes my blood boil. We’re out here killing each other over dumb things that probably won’t matter to us 20 years from now. But it never hit me that so many teens my age were being killed around me. When you hear the numbers — that 2,694 kids in the United States were killed from guns — you don’t realize that it’s the equivalent of 134 classrooms of 20 kids.

It didn’t hit me that there needed to be a change in these low-income neighborhoods until my close friends Raphael Sadonte Ward was killed on Jan. 4, 2013 by another very close friend of mine. It happened because of years of issues between the Jacob Riis Houses and the projects up the block, Baruch Houses.

The feeling of confusion when both of your close friends have their lives taken away from, one from a gun and the other from the system, is extreme.  I started to feel like I was disloyal to both my friends because I felt bad for both. But at this time you couldn’t sympathize with both sides — you were forced to pick one and stick to it. I couldn’t do that because I knew both the shooter and the victim too well and loved them dearly. I was upset at the shooter for killing him and at Sadonte for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sadonte was an amazing person who was loved by everyone. He had dreams of becoming a baseball player and getting his mother and eight year-old brother out of the projects.

Ever since his death my neighborhood has been divided. One would think this loss would calm everyone down because both sides lost people who were very important to them and they wouldn’t want to lose anyone else, but instead every project began Facebook arguments with one-another, threatening  the shooter’s family amongst other things.

On July 19, 2013 another friend of mine, Deontay Moore, was shot in his face by a young man from Sadonte’s neighborhood. Deontay was also a good kid just trying to make something out of the messed up living conditions of living in the projects. He was a funny kid who walked around with a smile on his face who always tried to find ways to make everyone smile even if he wasn’t really smiling in the inside.

Left: Raphael Sadonte Ward, August 18th 1996 – January 1st 2013 Right: Deontay Moore, September 18th, 1994 – July 20th, 2013
Left: Raphael Sadonte Ward, Aug. 18, 1996 – Jan. 1, 2013
Right: Deontay Moore, Sept. 18, 1994 – July 20, 2013

More things need to be done to stop the gun violence. Teens should not be able to access guns as easily as they are. The city should do more gun exchange programs inside of these hoods. Most teens want money and if they know they can turn their guns in anonymously and receive money, they would do it with no problem.

There should be more after school programs placed around these neighborhoods. They should receive help from the government to stay open and help kids to realize just because you’re from one project or another you’re no different or no better. If kids learn this at a younger age it would stop problems between different hoods. Also, kids need role models to show them there’s a whole different life outside of the life they’re living and they can only see it if they get off the streets. Remember no mother should ever have to bury her child.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: guns, violence

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