The Paw Print

A news publication created by Baruch's College Now high school journalism class

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Parks Agency V. Interest Groups

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America’s National Parks were formed for conservation efforts during Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. These principles hold true today, remaining a staple in American environmentalist ideology, the National Parks have implemented a new policy against the selling of bottled waters within the park in order to cut down on pollutants and garbage. According to Lisa Rein this will prevent 5,000 pounds of plastic from entering the litter stream. However, bottled water corporations have begun to lobby in Washington against  this action.

The interest group International Bottled Water Association, IBWA, representing 200 bottled water corporations, is lobbying for an amendment in an appropriations bill- the “Rothfus Bill”- which would prohibit the parks service from using taxpayer money for efforts to eliminate bottled water from their parks. Taxpayer money would go to public water bottle filling stations, as the alternative to selling bottled water within the parks.

While the IBWA claims to be protecting the taxpayers from the parks spending money on water bottle filling stations, this is fallacious. This claim from the IBWA is misleading because with the elimination of bottled water within the parks there would be less expenditure on “litter removal and waste disposal”. Water bottle sales within national parks are a huge source of revenue for these companies. They don’t seem that they care about the cost for taxpayers unless that money is going back to them.

The removal of bottled water within the parks was never mandatory. It was just a memo that encouraged the idea because it was a practical approach to saving money and creating less litter.

The elimination of selling of water bottles within the parks department would show a federal agency making an effort to help the environment, and it’s shameful that the IBWA would make such a show of trying to preserve their market.

Because of the steps taken by the Parks Service it looks as though the American government is functioning properly. But it is upsetting that government officials – notably Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA), have been persuaded to act in the interest of these groups. The IBWA’s reasoning behind the Rothfus Bill is a perverse act of monetary interest, it’s not about the people and their interest it’s about keeping money in the IBWAs pockets. While the big water companies might maintain this market, the environment will surely suffer.

Rein, Lisa. “How Big Water is trying to stop the National Park Service from cleaning up plastic bottles that are fouling up the parks.” Washington Post.  13 July 2015. Accessed 15 July 2015.

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/13/how-big-water-is-trying-to-stop-the-national-park-service-from-cleaning-up-plastic-bottles/> Web.

Is Helping the Homeless Really Helping Them?

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40 percent of the food that the U.S. produces each year is wasted. Saving 30 percent of that 40 percent would make food insecurity a thing of the past.

That’s what I tell every volunteer I guide through the city to bring restaurants’ leftover food to homeless shelters, rescue missions, and churches. Since last July, I have been a lead rescuer for Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, a non-profit food rescue organization based in NYC that focuses on eliminating food waste and insecurity simultaneously. For almost a year, I have been in close proximity to the city’s homeless population while wondering whether I should help them more or less.

While carrying out my duties of bringing both volunteers and food safely to the nearest church or homeless shelter, I found that the statistics on homelessness in the nation are less astonishing than how well-off some homeless people are. Certainly, there are patrons of the shelters who approach outsiders to network for job opportunities, but there are also patrons who approach bystanders to expand their social media following. The latter may leave you thinking, “What is he doing in a homeless shelter trying to get more Facebook likes and Instagram followers when he should be trying to get a job?”

To expand on that, you might ask yourself, “Why am I even bringing food to these so-called underprivileged people who have smartphones as nice as mine?”

People often visualize homeless people as old men with beards, more than three bags at any given time, and odd stenches. In May 2015, there was an estimated 59,000 people without shelter in New York City, so does that mean there are tens of thousands of stinky old men with beards walking around?

Despite common misconception, families, not men, are the majority group of homeless people. Lack of affordable housing, eviction, and overcrowded homes are common causes of homelessness in the city. A fair amount of the homeless are victims of violent acts or domestic abuse.

According to The Coalition for the Homeless, the number of people in NYC who sleep in shelters every night has spiked 79% in the last decade. Even so, it is hard to give a precise calculation of just how many people are living in New York City without a roof over their heads.

One might then ask, “Since these people are young, can’t they just get a job?” While many young homeless people make efforts to get hired, it is almost impossible to get employment without a fixed address. Thus, they must return to homeless shelters every evening just to receive a meal, if not a warm place to sleep.

Many times while delivering up to 30 pounds of food to The New York City Rescue Mission, I encountered patrons who were there for a plate of rice and chicken that most would take for granted. These people had all become a family, joking around and calling out each others names and laughing. Getting comfortable in an environment where everyone is in a situation similar to yours makes it easier, but being homeless is far from easy.

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No one wants to be homeless, but anyone can be at any given moment. Statistics say that one out of every three working people are susceptible to being homeless. As soon as one is labeled ‘homeless,’ it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to pick himself or herself back up especially when all the eyes of society are looking down upon him or her. Thus, the answer to the question of whether or not the homeless should be receiving as much help as they do today is yes, they should.

Most homeless people once had jobs, houses, and families before life hit them with unexpected tragedies. It takes an enormous amount of persistence and effort just for a homeless man, woman, or child to survive and homelessness should not be looked down upon, especially in today’s society where everyone is striving for equality.

 

The Health Craze is Not Just a Phase, But a Gaze into History

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Merriam Webster needs to make revisions to its dictionaries because society has altered the definitions of beauty and success once again due to the increased popularity of the health craze.

As a new resident of the Chelsea/ Flatiron neighborhood, I wasn’t surprised to find numerous Starbucks locations at my disposal, yet when I explored the area they appeared scarce compared to the overpopulation of juice bars. I never expected to stumble upon 7 spinning studios – 3 of which were SoulCycle.

spinning-771470_640SoulCycle reinvented indoor cycling when it opened its first studio in 2006 and became one of the top 10 NYC Google Searches of 2012. Ever since then, spinning studios have become part of the New York City lifestyle.

Companies like Juice Press and Blue Print have become popular names in the juice industry and they too are being integrated into our lives. They no longer just offer a trendy beverage for those who can afford it at $10 a bottle, but the companies, like spinning studios, have become part of our regimen.

“We see detoxing as a path to transcendence, a symbol of modern urban virtue and self transformation through abstinence…we indulge in expensive cold pressed juices and SoulCycle classes, justifying these purchases as investments in our health,” says Lizzie Crocker, journalist at the Daily Beast.

These days it seems like trends are ever so fleeting, but a few like these have become a part of who we are as a community.When you look into history, you see the trends that defined beauty and success have transformed drastically, while reflecting the times.

Look at the corset for example. In the 16th century it was meant to create a cylindrical figure, while flattening and raising the bust line. By the 18th century it transformed into an unhealthy device that created a hourglass figure. A trend that became a part of society for over 2 centuries evolved and changed to the point where it no longer was one.

In the past, a full figure meant you were wealthy enough to eat rich food. Due to this, such a figure became the definition of beauty and success for both women and men. Yet now, being skinny and fit has become the epitome of beauty. Just like in history, only those who can afford it have the opportunity to  become society’s ideal image.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, Eugene Lee Yang, video producer at BuzzFeed, said, “We’re so often preoccupied with current trends that we lose perspective on how fleeting our obsession with physical perfection has historically been.”

This recent health craze isn’t just a trend that reflects how we are fixated on obtaining society’s idea of perfection, but how perfection is made for the rich. If Merriam Webster needs help revising its definitions, here is a suggestion, “Beauty & Success: If you can afford it!”

 

Blast from the Past: Does Back to the Future still holds up as an 80’s cultural icon?

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delorean-38103_1280“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”

These are the last lines from the 80’s sci-fi film Back to the Future. The film is having its 30th anniversary this month and the main cast has reunited in London to celebrate it. But one question remains: does the film still hold up as a film classic after all this time or is it as dated as the time traveling tropes that the movie created?

    Back to the Future is about a teenager named Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, and his eccentric scientist pal, Dr. Emmett Brown played by Christopher Lloyd, and Brown’s time machine, a DeLorean, which lands Marty in 1955 with seemingly no way to return to 1985. While in 1955, Marty encounters his teenage parents, Lorraine and George played by Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover respectively, and he has to make sure his parents get together or else he may cease to exist.

After its release on July 3rd 1985, the movie became a cultural icon and even the president at the time, Ronald Reagan, even quoted the film in his 1986 State of the Union address stating, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” The film became the top grossing movie of 1985 and spawned two sequels, multiple video games, and helped the DeLorean gain its iconic status.

   Back to the Future got everything right in terms of casting, script, and special effects. Fox and Lloyd had an undeniable chemistry and were able to play off each other in terms of comedic timing. Their characters were also believable in terms of actions and dialogue. The script was full of classic quotes, such as “I’m your density. I mean, your destiny.” and “If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 mph… you’re gonna see some serious s#!t”

It didn’t feel as if the story was hard to follow or understand for traditional audiences. The special effects like the lighting hitting the clock tower and sending Marty back in time may feel dated for people accustomed to the CGI of today but for the time and what it was trying to accomplish, it worked beautifully. The movie doesn’t feel like a traditional sci-fi movie because it also has action, adventure and comedy. This allowed it appeal to a wider audience.

So Back to the Future still deserves its iconic status, even 30 years after its release because it can appeal to a wide audience and has the potential to bring in a new generation of fans because it has a unique story. It was also the forefather for the devices that time-travel films released after Back to the Future utilize like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Project Almanac. Therefore, Back to the Future deserves the praise and recognition it gets from critics and audiences alike.

 

 

 

 

 

Cultural Appropriation: Kylie Jenner

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Oriella St Louis

When you have over 30 million followers, your actions have consequences. Especially in the case of Kylie Jenner and cultural appropriation. The media has always chosen to use the strictest definition of the phrase, especially in the case of celebrities. Particularly Kylie, a young woman who is primarily known for her beautiful, powerful, and often times controversial family.

Kylie has sparked controversy in the last few months for a variety of reasons. These include getting her lips enlarged at the ripe age of 17, and dating a 25 year old man with an ex wife and a kid. As startling as these actions are, that’s not why she’s getting heat. The young woman has recently been accused of being, for lack of better word, racist. Her prominent presence on social media has only backed this theory. Her posts vary from pictures of herself with braids in her hair, grills (an accessory for your teeth that premiered primarily in black culture), and even the shape and size of her backside.

These actions could be seen merely as showing her appreciation for black culture. However, Jenner fails to address the fact that this isn’t her culture. She often remains silent when it comes to black issues, and denies that she has any involvement with the culture at all. And it’s not just the media that’s voiced their concerns but her peers as well.

Amandla Stenberg a young actress who is known for running in the same social circles as Jenner, publicly expressed her disdain for Kylie’s recent photographs. Under a picture of Kylie with braids, Amandla comments, “[W]hen u appropriate black features and culture but fail to use your position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards our wigs instead of police brutality or racism. #whitegirlsdoitbetter”. The comment sparked controversy on Instagram and Twitter causing Jenner to be bashed by thousands of fans.

While I believe her incessant interest and dabbling in black culture has earned her some backlash, I’m left pondering whether a 17-year-old should be so brutally scrutinized in the media. Despite her adult-like behaviors, she is still just a child.

Surely there is another place the media can focus their attention. Why are we discussing the braids in Kylie Jenner’s hair? There are more important issues to discuss such as the obscure death of Sandra Bland, who is speculated to have died in police custody rather than the reports that she committed suicide in her jail cell.

In times like these where the voices of the oppressed are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, why are people so fixated on one person? She is not yet an adult, and is without a doubt not done learning all there is to know about the world and the ignorance that exists within it.

Maradona: The Greatest Soccer Player

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File: Diego Maradona Napoli 1987-1988.jpg
Maradona playing for Napoli.

 

In June, Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team won their fourth Champions League (European Soccer Club Cup) final together. Messi was the deciding factor in the game against the Italian side, Juventus and immediately comparisons were made to the all time greats, Pele and Maradona. Many fans and pundits alike began to ask, is Messi the best of all time? Despite Messi’s unquestionable ability that title can go to only one player, Diego Armado Maradona.

The usual candidates for the best player all time are the Brazilian Pele, the Argentine Maradona and his compatriot Messi. All three players were dominant in their respective leagues and time periods. All of them have an uncountable amount of trophies and goals. However, at the end of the day Maradona wins out for the best ever.

In terms of goals scored, Maradona lags behind Messi and Pele. Pele scored an incomprehensible one thousand goals in his career. Likewise, Messi has scored an astonishing four hundred goals so far. When compared to these two legends, Maradona’s mere hundred goals seems poor.

However, one must take into account the players’ different positions. Pele was a striker and his chief objective was to score goals. Likewise, Messi plays as a false nine, a form of striker, and is also expected to score goals. In contrast, Maradona played as an attacking midfielder and as such had other responsibilities than scoring goals. His main role was to set up his teammates and apply pressure on the opposition’s defenders with his speed and dribbling.

One must also take into account the league and era in which each player played. In his prime in the 1960s, Pele played in the Brazilian league for Santos. At that time, and still today, the Brazilian managers put a greater emphasis on attacking than defending. As a result games were often high scoring, which inflates Pele’s stats. Messi plays in the Spanish league in which the games are balanced between attack and defense, as managers often put their emphasis on the midfield. In contrast, Maradona played for the Italian team Napoli during his prime in the mid to late 1980s. At that time the Italian league was considered to be the most competitive league in the world, and managers put their priority in defense. This lead to low scoring games and deflates Maradona’s stats.

Finally, one must look at the trophies that the players have won. The most important trophy is the World Cup, of which Pele won two, Maradona one, and Messi none. By this logic Pele would be considered the best player, but further analysis is required. Pele won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958 and 1970. Both teams are widely considered among the best teams ever, and included many other legends. For example, Brazil’s second striker Rivelino scored more goals than Pele in the 1970 World Cup. By contrast, Maradona almost singlehandedly won the World Cup for Argentina in 1986. There were no other household names on his team and he was the sole driving force behind their victory, scoring five goals and winning the player of the tournament award. Steven Pye of the Guardian said, “ It may be a little simplistic to state that the man single-handedly won the World Cup for his country, but that is what it felt like at the time. Think of Mexico 86 and Maradona always springs to mind.”

While Messi and Pele are both wildly good players, Maradona takes the title of the best player of all time. In the 1986 World Cup he was unstoppable for Argentina and he dominated the Italian league throughout the 1980s. Despite being a cocaine addict, cheat, and tax evader Maradona has survived to the age of fifty. Even today his name evokes emotions in soccer fans all over the world. Steven Pye said, “I may have detested the little genius at the time and wasted Blu-Tack on him, but if I’m ever asked who I think is the greatest footballer ever I always answer Diego Maradona.”

 

Corporations and Elections: a Questionable Democracy

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Money and politics. They are like rats and the NYC subway- nobody wants to see them together but history shows that they are inseparable. And with presidential race in full swing, more politicians are proving that money is far more valuable than a clear vision on current problems.

There is nothing wrong with supporting your favorite candidate by donating to his/her fund or a Political Action Committee (PAC). Democracy suffers, however, when powerful and wealthy players become donors as they overshadow everyone else.1280px-American_corporate_flag

Corporations, based on Supreme Court decision in Citizens United (2010), are people and, therefore, may exercise their First Amendment rights of free speech; many corporations decide to support certain political candidates by donating money.

The problem is corporations are not like people when it comes to incomes. A corporation is a lifeless, emotionless “machine” that has only one purpose– to make money. As the result, donations that many corporations are capable of far exceed the ones of an average citizen. According to 24/7 Wall Street, since 2012 a financial firm, the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. donated $4,769,994 to various political campaigns. Similarly, a casino and resort operator Las Vegas Sands Corp., donated $11,738,600. It’s certainly not what the average citizen can afford.

So how do these huge amounts of money hurt America? First, huge donations help donors get better treatment than everyone else. A politician feels the need to help generous donors after a couple of millions are thrown his or her way. This means signing exclusive deals with that corporation, “closing their eyes” to corporation’s misconduct, passing or vetoing a new law. For example, a controversial Keystone pipeline bill that’s been repeatedly vetoed by Obama was passed in Congress with 270 members voting for it. According to Think Progress report, all 270 congressmen received generous donation from big oil company totaling about $31 million.

Does this sound as a democracy?

The second problem is that no politician can advance without big donations. Even the ones with strong moral values fall to the temptation of having better resources. Money enables candidates to run campaigns and bombard voters with ads and commercials. This is evident in current presidential elections; Austin Barbour, a Mississippi-based operative interviewed by USA Today, said that, “anybody who is thinking about running for president has got to have a group of donors out there aggressively backing them.” Running for president costs a lot–some experts say that Obama spent $1 billion on 2012 presidential elections.

The GOP candidates have started fundraising early. According to The Washington Post, $4 out of every $5 raised so far on behalf of GOP White House candidates has gone to independent groups rather than the official campaigns. These independent groups are not supposed to be controlled by the candidate but often are. Independent groups also do have the same restrictions on the amount of money that can be raised that campaigns do; donors donate how much they please and don’t even have to disclose their identity. Do you see the problem with that? Politicians might get millions of dollars from wealthy people whose name is not disclosed to the general public. When we vote, we are clueless about who candidates are working with behind the closed doors.

The Democratic candidates, unlike many believe, catch up with the Republicans on fundraising as they accept money from powerful people. Hillary Clinton, for example, is the first Democrat ever to publicly embrace her Super PAC which is expected to raise $200 million to $300 million. Super PACs are similar to independent groups as there is no limit on donations and donors’ name can be concealed.

Experts say that the current presidential race will be the most expensive one yet. This seems likely. But, as more candidates accept money from profit-thirsty corporations, American democracy breaks apart.

Into the Abyss of History – Blood Feuds

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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.”

Madison Square Park: A Break from the City

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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.

Elizabeth Center Shops are Closing

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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.