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Reporter’s note

On the Halloween evening on 31st October, I went for a walk to see how people are going to celebrate the day after the super storm Sandy. It seemed the storm could not stop neighbors in Jackson Heights from putting their Halloween masks on faces. Kids were overflowing streets in their various and colorful Halloween costumes, such as batmans, supermans, wizards, gorillas, skeleton, princess, fairies and many more. They were knocking door to door, store to store for Halloween candies with buckets in hands. Not only kids were happily chosen to become mythical characters as Halloween theme, but also parents were equally dressed up for the Halloween besides their children.

Watching the Halloween crowd on streets, no one can imagine that two days ago the same streets were completely empty during the storm. People were stayed homes all day, glued their eyes on news channels, and tried to contact with family and friends to find out how they were doing?  There were only few groceries and restaurants were opened on 74th and 75th Streets. The streets were like a dead zone.

After spent two days at home without doing any outside activities, people from all ages enjoyed their time outside on the Halloween day, and went back home with lots of Halloween candies.

Can a Diverse Neighborhood Save This Struggling Business?

Two years ago, neighbors in Jackson Heights, Queens used to buy a stack of phone cards to call relatives in their home country. They would move around with a dozen phone cards in their wallets; phone cards were the preferred way to contact people overseas. However, the variety of internet and phone companies’ offers that make it cheap to call long distance today are lightening people’s wallets and threatening the international phone card business.

“The international phone card business has dropped 75%,” said Amarjit Singh, an owner of a clothing store that also sells phone cards in Jackson Heights. He has 50 different types of international calling cards in his store based on public demand. “It has become a side business that only is for attracting customers,” said Singh.

Singh has minimized the phone card business in his store. He understands that now people want everything in one device. Phone companies like T-Mobile and Metro PCS are offering free long distance calls under their contract plan, which affects the phone card business. Also, Skype, Yahoo and many others online companies have cheap offers to make international calls.

“People can make local and international calls from one phone which is convenient for them,” said Singh. “The money goes to big companies. They buy minutes and sell to four to five million people nationwide. They are making money, not the small businessmen.”

Another phone card businessman, Mohammed Tariqul Islam explains the 3-step process of the international phone card business: phone card companies sell phone cards to the wholesalers; the wholesalers sell to the retailers; finally, the businessmen buy phone cards from the retailers.

“It takes 50 cents to make one phone card. I have to buy a card for $1.50 and I am selling the card for $1.75; it is only 25 cents profit,” Islam said. “My monthly gross income is $3000 to $4000, which is not profitable enough to take care of the store’s rent.” After a brief silence and a big sigh, Islam shared his future plan, which is to start a wholesale business of phone cards, hoping to make a profit.

Between 74th and 75th Streets on 37th Avenue, in two blocks, there are more than 15 stores selling phone cards. Anwar Hossain works hard seven days a week from morning to midnight, because he cannot afford an employee. “The internet connection is getting faster in Asia. Now people can talk on Skype and other websites rather than buy phone card,” said Hossain. He is planning to close his five year old phone card business and looking for something else to do.

“A phone card is now like a newspaper. We do not make money but we have to keep the newspaper anyway,” said Hossain sadly.

The phone card business is challenging the small businessmen in Jackson Heights. They have to find an alternative way to make a profit, such as selling other products like clothes, jewelry, perfumes, childrens’ toys, gum, and other daily products.

Gowardhanvi Patel opened his small stall one year ago, where he sells phone cards along gums, snacks bars and newspapers. “No one is making a profit on the phone card business not only because of its decline, but also because of the competition,” said Patel. “Some businessmen who are only doing their phone card businesses in a tiny place or sharing a corner of a store, and paying less rent, they make some profit and are able to sell cards cheaply.”

Despite the fact, small businessmen are still investing their money and effort to establish International phone card business in Jackson Heights because of the diverse population of the neighborhood. Now the primary customers of phone cards are students and single immigrants, who buy $2.00 phone cards to save money.

If the phone card business continuous to shrink rapidly, many people in Jackson Heights will be cut off from their family. “My family does not live here,” said Sahida Begum. “I call Bangladesh every day. I buy phone cards because I do not have internet in my house.”

A Journalist’s cherishes to an imaginary Writer

Joe Gould’s Secret is Joseph Mitchell’s immense creation which published in 1965. It is based on two of his profiles pieces in The New Yorker, “Professor Sea Gull” in 1942 and “Joe Gould’s Secret” in 1964. In this book, Mitchell explores so magnificently about the writer, critic, and eccentric, Joe Gould, who used to live in Greenwich Village in the 20th century.

After reading the book, people would have positive and negative reactions about Joe Gould and his life. He intentionally created a shadow boundary upon him, where he was deeply in search of a free life. On the other hand, he was a wanderer and an orator who believed that history should be the voice of present poor people instead of the past.

Despite, Joe Gould’s bold personality, isolated living life from other writers and artists on his time, and moat importantly, the theory of ‘Oral History’ (recording of modern life: voice of the lower class people); I feel it is more of Joseph Mitchell’s astonishing writing and portraying style that elevated this true story into a surprising level. Mitchell not only discovered that the ‘Oral History’ did not exist also kept the secret a several years after Joe Gould’s death.

I really enjoyed Joseph Mitchell’s brilliant and powerful writing. My favorite quote from the book is, “Gould’s life is by no means carefree; he is constantly tormented by what he calls the three H’s” – homelessness, hunger and hangovers.”

Shops on 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights

Today I was walking around from 76th to 82nd streets on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. While I was walking, I noticed that these seven blocks are blended by different shops from different ethnic groups, such as, European bread and cheese stores, couple of Hispanic restaurants and salons, one Indian restaurant, florist shops, and some groceries. It is like chain-blocks where you can easily obtain all daily and necessary substances. I felt this part of the neighborhood is quite convenient for the neighbors. Next time I will take some picture and add them with the post.

Amanda Burden, the city planner

“Amanda Burden Wants to RemakeNew York. She Has 19 Months Left,” by Julie Satow is truly an inspiring and helpful article. Satow’s unique feature article writing approaches are so engaging to read the article nonstop. It actually helped me to understand better about how important is to provide quote and critique both to introduce a person in an effective way.

Concerning about Amanda Burden, the director of the New York City Planning Department, is not only a strong persona also a strict planner to develop her city. Her activities, thinking style and contribution are quite impressive to me. And I believe that when you are in such a position like her, a city planner, you should be tough to get things right. Among of all her quotes, I like this one most, “I know this is an once-in-a-lifetime job.” This quote gives the message that do not wastes your chance, and apply it with efficiency to do something that will remain remarkable to the society.