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Monthly Archives: September 2013
Amanda Burden Response
My favorite part of this profile by Ms. Satow was a short transition paragraph that clarified who Amanda Burden is:
“But critics say that the sum total of Ms. Burden’s ambitions will be a gentrified city that no longer has a place for working-class New Yorkers.”
This short and sweet summation of Amanda Burden’s “critics” with a hot-button word that everyone loves to hate, “gentrification,” this really broke into the story and where the sides seem to switch by the reporter.
I like that Satow made Burden appear as though she is some kind of modern day Jackie O-esque superwoman with her fashion sense, ties to big names on the social ladder, but great attention to detail.
I thought the use of the word “balked” when describing Burden’s reaction to a presentation before her was funny. “Balk” has such a negative connotation, and this sentence made it seem like she was a bit elitist. Satow’s harsh quotes from the president of the tenant’s association at public housing about the Highline really illuminated the difference between Burden and her constituents: rich and poor.
I also think the article largely highlighted how her rezoning has negatively affected the city.
Posted in Amanda Burden
Tagged Amanda Burden, Rebecca Ungarino
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Amanda Burden
In the article, “Amanda Burden Wants to Remake New York, She Has 19 Months Left,” Julie Satow portrayed Burden’s personality and city developments fairly. It is interesting how Satow describes her posh appearance during a meeting in the introduction:
AMANDA M. BURDEN, in a sheath dress, impossibly thin and with a blond bob reminiscent of the “Mad Men” ’60s, wore a serene smile as she oversaw a recent public hearing in a drab hearing room near City Hall.
The small details immediately paint an unexpected image of Burden as a city planner. It also hints at her past as a socialite and an “it girl,” which Satow briefly touched on. Her past, along with her appearance adds an interesting aspect to Burden’s profile. But it’s an aspect that barely defines the main points of the article.
Satow further describes the developments and the impact that Burden made in the city. It’s quite amusing how Burden use “economic development” for what critics viewed as gentrification. The critics of Burden’s plans brought up issues of the local communities not gaining any benefits from the projects, aside from an increase in tourist attractions. In her defense, Burden claims that her projects are “pro-development” and and a form of “necessary growth.” Her intentions are to improve the city and provide more jobs.
Throughout the article, Satow gives both the negative and positive perceptions of Amanda Burden. It is an image that illustrates Burden’s rise to political leadership and highlights her ambitious plans of improving New York through rezoning. She could have easily made a sensational story out of Burden’s socialite past and somehow use it against her, but Satow chose a more realistic and balanced view nto the city planner’s job.
Neighborhood faces – SoHo
SoHo is rich in old establishments. Old galleries, old cobblestone streets that contrast with the paved roads of midtown, old buildings converted from factories into luxury apartment buildings, and old restaurants. The restaurant I work in has been at its Spring Street and 6th Avenue location for 17 years, and emulates the stuck-in-time vibe of SoHo.
A woman named Michelle, between 60 and 70 years old, is a retired longtime server at the restaurant I have been with for almost one year. She has also lived in SoHo her entire life. Michelle worked at Aquagrill from their opening in 1996 until about 2008, and places a twist on the classic female New York City server persona: bubbly and friendly, with a touch of feisty quirk and jaded warmth. She has that “I know what I’m doing” way about her. I will be interviewing Michelle as the face of SoHo, for I believe she embodies the SoHo that many older longtime residents recall: stylish and artistic and less crowded than what the neighborhood today.
As she has agreed to speak with me, although we have yet to set up an interview, I will be asking Michelle what she believes the future of SoHo holds, how she believes the neighborhood has changed, and ask about anecdotes she may have of the neighborhood over the years. I would love to ask her where she was during 9/11, for SoHo is in close proximity to the Towers. The angle I’d like to take is asking Michelle about “old SoHo vs. New SoHo” with a focus on the “cronut” phenomenon as a metaphor for the overcrowding of the neighborhood. As a retiree from the food industry, she has to have some opinion about the craze over a $5 pastry. She has no children, but she has been married to her husband for many years, so I will ask to speak to him as well about Michelle. She has friends in the area who I will also ask to speak with, and I have the feeling she takes classes or lessons of some kind, so I will ask to speak with her instructors about Michelle and perhaps their encounters with her in SoHo.
I will definitely be asking to take a few pictures, as she is a beautiful older woman with very thin features and an interesting way about her that I am eager to explore. I would love to get some shots of her in her apartment, perhaps.
Neighborhood Faces Query
The sound of morning bells is music to Principal Margaret Lacey-Berman’s ears. Margaret Lacey-Berman has been the principal at Brooklyn High School of the Arts since 2008. She was a teacher and assistant principal at Fort Hamilton High School where she influenced their music program. She is also on the Francis School board of trustees. Lacey-Berman is involved with many foundations and causes. Lacey-Berman is also a public school parent and is committed to the arts because her son is a musician and personal actor.
Margaret Lacey-Berman would be the perfect candidate to interview because she has much experience in the teaching profession. Margaret Lacey-Berman is aware of all the issues going on in Prospect Heights and cares about the future generation.
My first question to Margaret Lacey-Berman would be, how do you feel about the Barclays Center being built? Other questions I would ask are; has it influenced children’s attendance at school. Has the new center given back to the community or schools. What are parents thoughts on the center? Does the Barclays Center make it difficult for staff and students to commute to school each morning? Has the center reached out to schools in the neighborhood? Do you think the Barclays center will make a good impact on the neighborhood? Has the Barclays Center done everything they said they would? Are there any issues going on in the neighborhood you feel needs to be addressed?
Posted in Neighborhood News, Neighborhoods, Reporting Notes
Tagged Danielle Russell, Prospect Heights
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Poverty Rate Up in City and Income Gap is Wide, Census Data Show
Please read this New York Times story (New York section)and add the info into your BACKGROUNDER folder.
Note the multiple quotes and diverse sources in the story.
Posted in Backgrounder
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Gowanus Neighborhood Face
In interest to the boom in creativity in the Gowanus area, so many people and businesses have flocked there to live and flourish in arts and media. In particular, I was happy to discover a art space called Brooklyn Art Space close to my job that Ive never really realized before.
I would love to speak to the art director who is Rhia Hurt who is also a artist and has been featured in many exhibitions all over New York and California. She originally hails from Northern California coming to Gowanus with a masters in Painting and Education. I will also speak to the art space staff and even patrons of the art space if available to find out if they live where they work and how is working with Rhia Hurt.
Posted in Neighborhoods, Profiles
Tagged Marian Thomas, neighborhood
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Neighborhood Faces Query: Washington Heights
When taking the 1 train to the 191st street stop, after taking the long elevator ride (longest elevator shaft of all the MTA stations) to St. Nicholas Avenue and walking out of the subway entrance, one of the first things to be seen is the video game store sandwiched between the Chinese takeout spot and sneaker store. Subway Game & Phone has existed in its location for more than a decade now, and running the store is Mike, who has been there since its founding. Recently, he shifted his business model towards focusing on phone/device repairs, and liquidated all of his video games.
I intend on interviewing him about running a business in Washington heights, and try to find out his reasoning for shifting his business model away from something he had been selling for so long. Along with this, I plan on asking him if he sees his location as an advantage or disadvantage for his business. I also want to interview the proprietors of neighboring businesses, to see if the opinions proposed by Mike are similar for them as well.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Willie Diaz
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Reverend John Francis of Woodhaven
If there is anything that unites the diversity in Woodhaven, it’s the Catholic faith. At around eight o’clock in the morning, people of all ages and ethnicities gather in St. Thomas the Apostle church to attend the Sunday Mass. Reverend John Francis is one the pastoral staff that witnesses this gathering.
I had met Rev. Francis a few times in the past when he made visits at home to administer the Eucharist for my grandparents. He’s roughly fifty-years-old and he’s been a part of the local parish for a very long time, long enough to gain a perspective of the neighborhood and the diverse people that makes it up.
During the interview, I will be asking him about his experiences of meeting families who just moved in the neighborhood, senior citizens—like my grandparents—who have been living there all their lives, and of course, the young students in the local Catholic school of the same name. What led him to devote his life to priesthood? I’m also curious about his knowledge of the history of Woodhaven and how he perceives the changes within the community. I’ll also be asking how the St. Thomas Parish helps unite the diverse Woodhaven community and how they accommodate the increasing number of Latin American ethnic groups in the neighborhood. This raises questions of how the church is dealing with budget issues within the parish, as well as within the school.
Additional sources that I will be interviewing are the head pastor of St. Thomas church, Rev. Frank Tumino, the school principal, Joseph Carpenter, and the altar children. I will be asking them about their personal experiences with Rev. Francis during the many years he had served the parish.
Posted in Story Queries
Tagged Roxanne Torres, Woodhaven
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Amanda Burden Profile Response
Julie Satow wrote a fair profile of Amanda Burden. I feel like she introduced who she was, where she came from and gave us a little background history on Burden. Satow did not just jump into what Burden was doing with the New York City Project. First she mentioned her qualifications, her family background, and how she stumbled upon this task. Satow used percentages to show how much of New York Burden rezoned and was knowledgable about how many blocks were covered in her zoning plans. Satow was also aware of all the things Burden did in each neighborhood.
I liked how Satow gave two sides to the story. At first, I thought she was only going to write about the positive things but I was pleasantly surprised. Satow broke down both perspectives first because otherwise it would seem she was attacking her. This way Satow seemed unbiased and more informative.
I don’t feel Satow revealed her own point-of-view. I feel she did a lot of research, wrote facts and had many sources. Having a variety of sources backed up the points she was making. Satow spoke to people from community boards, tenants’ association, and the Regional Plan Association. I don’t think she left anyone out and depicted everyone’s point-of-view.
To me it seems like Burden is the right person for the job. I must admit she had for a lot accomplished, especially with High Line park. Burden appears to be a no nonsense taking woman who is focused on getting things done. She seems to have everything planned out and is very meticulous when it comes to how she wants neighborhoods to look. I feel she has a vision to make the city a better place for the future. Burden is very passionate about what she does and hopes to achieve everything she has set out to do.