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Vision Zero Act

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New Yorkers are perpetually moving pendulums in a game called life. If it’s not going on our phones ordering a venti caramel macchiato from Starbucks, then we’re running across the street to catch a cab or a bus. Now imagine getting a ticket for not waiting for the traffic light or walking all the way to the crosswalk before crossing the street. The rustle and bustle don’t just live in the city but also within it’s boroughs too. Cars, trucks and buses are littered throughout Flushing Main Street, as the moon greets the meek. But, this night was not like the others, this night was sparse with cars and tears in the streets.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! THUMP! It was about 8:30 p.m. near Main Street and Kissena Boulevard when the accident occurred. Lifeless body was left in the middle of the street as a charter bus heading to a casino drives past Main Street. Citizens of Flushing saw a scene of utter shock and dismay, as cars upon cars running over the body. According to community Activist Sherrell Jordan “We have too many casino buses that’s coming through this very congested area in Flushing.” In a formal statement by a Skyliner employee, “There is an investigation and we are cooperating.”

In January of 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City’s Vision Zero Act. Traffic fatalities in New York have indeed fallen significantly, to at least 43 pedestrians killed this year, compared with 47 at this time last year. Though this isn’t a huge number, Mayor Blasio is looking to permanently rework the streets and it could begin by 2017. These changes would not have gone through without the help of Councilman Peter Koo, Assemblyman Mike Simanowitz, Ron Kim, Grace Meng and Deputy Inspector Thomas Conforti.

Before and After "Slow Zones"

Before and After “Slow Zones”

As indicated by the 109th precinct records online, it shows that during the month of September it had only issued 8 speeding violation tickets. Which would seem like a blessing, but, in reality, it’s not. As a Flushing resident you, see blatant disregards for traffic laws nearly every day. Kim Muy Wong a Flushing resident says that “I see cars turn on Roosevelt to Main daily with little regard to the traffic signs. Just the other day I was walking from Main Street to 41st Street and a car just narrowly missed me. Even though I had the right of way.” Reading from the 109th precinct’s records also show that 4.7% of the summonses issued by this precinct this year were for driving without a valid driver’s license. That could mean 1 in 20 drivers is apparently driving illegally in Flushing. Just the thought of this can cause many people to think residency in Flushing would have a negative effect, but it’s quite the opposite as well. Flushing population and rent have been increasing the only way to help this problem are to teach the people, to protect the people.

Department of Transportation’s data of Hit & Run Deaths since 2012 – 2014 average was about 32 accidents, and in 2014 it was 22 accidents within Flushing Queens. But after Vision Zero was adopted by Mayor Bill de Blasio it has dropped down to 14. It’s not the first such initiative since Mayor Bill de Blasio took office the NYPD reportedly handed out 452 jaywalking tickets between Jan. 1, 2015 and the end of February, compared with just 50 during the same period last year and 531 for all of 2013. Mayor Bill de Blasio is wanting an overhaul of everything related to New York City traffic and safety precautions. He goes on in saying that “The fundamental message of Vision Zero is that death and injury on city streets are not acceptable and that we will no longer regard serious crashes as inevitable.”

Before and After

Boroughs are taking step by step advancements to their street safety every week. Just recently Flushing has been adopting the select bus service lanes or the only bus lanes for major buses that run through Flushing. Trying to relieve traffic congestions and allow pedestrians to gauge and see where the motor vehicles are coming from. Among the 47 streets named crash prone Kissena ranked 8th worst and main 9th worst, based on the city’s measurement of killed or seriously injured per mile. But for Sherrell Jordan, “That’s not enough, the neighborhood where this deadly accident happened needs speed bumps. And it shouldn’t take a tragedy to call attention to the problem.”

It could be said that these accidents were both a blessing and a curse. A blessing for the fact that people are getting more aware of traffic and street safety. While the negative part is that we as a human race had to see tragedy before we stepped up to the plate and repair the problems.

American Girl

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What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates”s profile?

The theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates’s profile is about Michelle Obama’s past and how she grew up “rooted in her home, the South Side of Chicago”.

Is there an overarching narrative?

Well there seems to be an overarching narrative about the separation between the way Ta Nehisi-Coates grew up and Michelle Obama. He references a lot of his past in way that the readers can be able to relate too and is interesting enough to keep your attention.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

Ta Nehisi-Coates was surprised about Michelle Obama because she wasn’t an average angry black women he’s used to seeing. Growing up as a son of a radical Black Panther movement he must have been surrounded by female individuals who spoke from their heart. Much of which we can assume was about black oppression and white supremacy.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Ta Nehisi-Coates’s background is built upon the idealistic that were impressed upon him as a child growing up within the Black Panthers. Especially during his college years in Howard referring, “It was the mid-’90s, and all of us sported some measure of black pride—be it Afrocentric or ghettocentric”, while Michelle Obama grew up in a black community. This idea of “blackness” growing up seems to spur Ta Nehisi-Coates’s inner soul while for Michelle Obama she didn’t have to face the same struggle.

Near the 7 Line: Jin Cheng Restaurant in Flushing

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The station’s loudspeaker blares, “This is the last stop on the 7 train. Flushing, Main Street. Please do not forget your belongings, and exit the train.” Inching ever so slowly, the escalators in Flushing station brings their clientele to street level, where aromas of dim sum and tea punctures the air. Riders come far and wide for a taste of Jin Cheng Restaurant’s traditional Cantonese cooking.

RestaurantFor five years, this family-owned business, has been located at 142-38 Roosevelt Ave, between Union street and Bowne Stree. It’s a prime location for the restaurant, having the 7 train only a block away. This contemporary Asian restaurant in Flushing, Queens makes a name for itself by providing exceptional dining service and delicious cuisine. All thanks to the manager of the restaurant, Benny Yeng.

Every morning at 5 a.m., a grey minivan departs from Flushing. Benny Yeng, dressed in an all black blazer with a button down white shirt and handkerchief sticking out of his back pocket, takes it upon himself to pick up employees that live a long way away from Flushing every day. He says that, “I’ve been doing this for about five years now. Driving from Flushing to Chinatown and back again, it’s very tedious and boring but someone has to do it.”

According to the most recent Queens rental market report, Flushing rentals for single bedroom housing have been decreasing by 7.09% since the previous month. Yeng says that he has “to drive in an hour of traffic to just get to them and the ride back would feel even longer. Rent in Flushing and around the neighborhood is so expensive, it’s hard hiring workers within Flushing. If we hired workers within Flushing we would have to pay more.”

Studio and two bedroom units are averaging increased numbers by 2.26% and 1.88% respectively, since August 2015, which could be due to the fact of so many immigrants are moving to America from China. Paula Annarumma of PCA Realty says that, “Single-family homes are being pushed further back towards Long Island, while apartment buildings, condos, co-ops and other multi-family housing project are developing.” Housing developers have come to realize that they profit more by building multiple small apartments. As rentals for larger family apartments are rising, there’s also an increase in commercial rent. As reported by New York City’s Multiple Listing Service, a restaurant that is  five blocks away from Jin Cheng Restaurant is going for 266,000 dollars for 1,950 square feet, which averages around 73 cents per square foot. According to the New York City Department of Finance,  Jin Cheng Restaurant has 15,334 square feet and is paying about 350,000 dollars in rent which averages about $4.38 per square foot.

Yeng says, “After driving them back to work, it’s about 7:00 a.m. when the restaurant opens up for food preparations for the day.” Chefs in the back chop away in a methodical rhythm as they sing songs from the radio. There are about four chefs in total, and each chef knows exactly what’s their role in the kitchen. One would be dicing up fresh vegetables while the other cleaning the meats and poultry for the day, another would be in charge of sauce preparations, and last one would be cleaning the utensils. The front of the house gets ready by cleaning each table and chair before the start of the day.

As the manager, Yeng does a final check before opening the doors at 9:30 a.m. Wearing a pure white glove, he surveys the restaurant. Looking for anything out of the ordinary and for dust and dirt. Getting an “A” for health inspection wasn’t an easy task, so he takes his job seriously. Mei Zhang Lam a waitress for the front of the house says that “He’s like a sergeant in the military in the morning. Though I know he’s very particular in things, he does it because it makes our restaurant the best it can be.”

Shrimp and Mayonnaise Benny doesn’t only take looks and decor seriously but also the food. One of the most popular dishes to order is their mayonnaise shrimp from the dinner specials with crunchy walnuts. Imagine lightly battered shrimp to give it a delightful texture, while the sweet and crunchy walnuts that are coated in light sugar and baked before reaching the plate.

 

Lobster and Gluttonous rice                                                 Another popular specialty dish is their lobster with glutinous rice. The rice itself is soaked in a seafood base solution for about 6 to 24 hours before even going into the dish. Depending on the time frame of when it’s ordered, the longer you soak it, the better the taste. The atmosphere is classic Cantonese Chinese with big round tables for families to sit and share a meal.

Vincent Lo

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The sun’s rays crack through the window blinds and the family dog barks in excitement for the day. The familiar cry of BEEP BEEP BEEP and within a second THUD hits the off button. The aroma of fresh coffee beans in the morning, threatening shouts of “Time to wake up” shakes the home, mayonnaise slamming into dry pieces of toast, kids running to the car, and the oh so familiar traffic jam of cross island starts off his morning.

Upon entering his Dodge Durango you see stacks of invoices from different buildings, letters addressed to Mr.Vincent Lo, bags of screws, box of tools and keys to buildings littered throughout his car. But just enough space to fit his morning cup of coffee to start his day. The job of a property manager/broker is to oversee the day-to-day building’s operation. While the job of a broker is to sell clients part of the building’s empty space. His place of work is generally rolling down the highway from one building to the other. But if you’re lucky enough to fit into his schedule you might be able to hear his pitch.

“Our company is the managing agent for the property, we have full knowledge of the building, we have full financial information of the building, we are more than well qualified to market and sell within the building, we have a good support staff, we are a part of the multiple listing service, and we keep a list of potential buyers of the past and future.” – Vincent Lo

Growing up in the lower east side of Manhattan, he learned to work hard at a young age. At the early age of thirteen/fourteen he started working at his parent’s restaurant business. He worked from the front of counter to the back of the kitchen. At a young age he already knew the hustle necessary to make a buck.

“Establishing ones reputation takes time and hard work. Back then because there barely was internet I would have to scrounge through the newspapers, and call to find listings of apartments for sale. Trying to co-broke a deal with a broker and make some money. Back when I started I would easily spend up to nine thousand dollars on advertisement space. While now-a-days you can just as easily save that money and post up advertisements on craigslist for free.”

Census.gov shows that the median family income in Queens runs about $64,371. While a majority of families are making $50,000 to $74,000 at 18.2%. What is quite shocking is that families that make $200,000 or more make up 5.1% of Queens. Which could be a reason for so many immigrants in Queens. People are probably moving to United States with money to grow a business or to purchase land and resell it later. Due to a heavy influx of money coming from overseas and China. United States Customs and Border Protection has limited the amount to ten thousand dollars. You are allowed to bring and take up to ten thousand dollars from and to United States at any given time with the need to fill out a “Report of International Transportation of Currency and Monetary Instruments Form.”

Queens has been getting a lot of publicity this past year and according to the Lonely Planet, one of the world’s most successful travel publishers. They have named Queens, New York as number one tourist destination of 2015. Although Queens known for its sports arenas like, the Arthur Ash stadium where the U.S. Open plays, Citi Field where the Mets play. Not only that but Queens is also known for it’s museums like, the Moving Picture Museum, MOMA P.S. 1, the Queens Museum, and food. Queens is built upon the shoulders of immigrants around the world. Some coming from Italy, some coming from Philippines, some coming from Mexico, some coming from Korea, some coming from China. Queens and New York has become a melting pot of the 21st century. In the light of all this positive feedback, there are negative impacts to the people who live in Queens. As stated by MNS, Queens rental Market Report, average rent throughout Queens has increased 2.12% from $2,104.13 in July 2015. A steady trend like that would lead most to view affordable housing as a way to escape the increase of rent in Queens.

Gentrification of New York City really depends on people’s perspective on things. You can either think “Rising real estate prices is doing good for New York City?” or “Are you hurting these people who do not qualify affordable housing.” Pushing them out and end up having the government pay for subsidies and so forth. It really depends on how you see it, whether the glass is half full or half empty.

Joe Gould

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What do you think of New Yorker editor Harold Ross’s calling Joseph Mitchell’s profiles: “highlife-lowlife” pieces?

Well according to Harold Ross he says that Mitchell “made an art out of detailing his subjects’ magical, wandering commentary.” That is the “highlife” Harold is saying. That being said, Joseph Gould over exemplifies the idea of wandering commentary. In the article Street Life by Joseph Mitchell, the whole first page is about how much Joseph Gould is just fascinated with walking around New York. In the article he specifically wrote, “What I really like to do is wander aimlessly in the city.”

While the “lowlife” pieces come from the profile he chooses. Joseph Gould though he came from a prestigious Ivy League University, he is stuck as a nomadic person. His love of traveling around New York, as readers we become sucked into Joseph’s life as well. A guy with not a care in life, “I never get tired of gazing from the back seats of buses at the stone eagles and the stone owls and the stone dolphins and the stone lions’ heads and the stone bulls’ heads and the stone rams’ head…”

Harold Ross hit the nail on the head when he said Mitchell’s a “highlife-lowlife” writer. Harold says “The only people he didn’t care to listen to; were society woman, industrial leaders, distinguished authors, ministers, explorers, moving picture actors, and any actress under the age of thirty-five.” So his highlife writing with lowlife profiling fits the bill.

Backrounder For Queens

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Comparatively the Queens county has about a population of 2,321,580 comparatively to New York with 19,746,227. Statistically Queens makes up about 12% of New York population. Population growth from April 1, 2010 was 2,230,539 which has an increase of 4.1% of people since then. Of that population 49.1% are white, 20.8% are of African American, 1.3% American Indian, and 25.8% are Asian. Also comparatively with New York at 8.5%, a majority of Asian American live out in Queens.

Some quick facts about business is that Asian owned firms are at about 29% in Queens while in New York its about 10.1%. Which could be a huge reason why there’s a large number of Asian Americans that live in Queens County.

According to Census.gov the median family income in Queens runs about $64,371. A majority of families are making between $50,000 – $74,000 at 18.2% and the second making about $100,000 – $149,000 at 16.8%. Which leads me to believe that maybe there’s a huge influx of money coming over from over seas, trying to make it big in America. What is quite shocking to me is that families that make $200,000 or more make up 5.1% of Queens, while families making a staggering $10,000 – $14,999 make up 3.2%. That to me is a crazy statistic alone.

 

250 Words on Flushing, Queens.

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The neighborhood that I would like to focus on is Flushing, Queens New York. For the natives that live and work in and by downtown Flushing, it’s synonymous with “the Chinese Manhattan.” Over many years Flushing’s iconic low-rise, mom and pop vendors, and restaurants have sprawled across the north central parts of Queens. Though I do not currently live there, I’ve work and grew up mainly within Flushing.

In the early to late 1970s, Chinese communities and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association started to establish niches or foothold in the Flushing, Queens. This wave of immigrants who started first populating and developing Flushing’s Chinatown was from Taiwan. It was known as “Little Taiwan” or “Little Taipei,” as Taipei was the capital of Taiwan. During the 1950s and 1960s, New York’s Chinatown predominantly spoke Cantonese and was made up of Cantonese immigrants. But during the 1970s, the Taiwanese immigrants who were one of the first types of immigrants that spoke Mandarin Chinese tried to adapt and assimilate within Manhattan’s Chinatown. Unfortunately with poor housing conditions in the city and large language barriers within the communities, the Taiwanese immigrants could not relate to the Manhattan Chinatown and eventually settled in Flushing.

Our own Manhattan’s Chinatown was thought to be the only center of Chinese culture and history now has another rival, and that rival’s name is Flushing. Bigger and larger Chinese supermarkets have been rapidly growing and developing within flushing, queens. Flushing in itself is becoming an epicenter of Chinese culture outside of Asia and China.

According to Census.gov, Queens as a whole in New York has 56.5% of people who speak other languages then English at home. Also Queens has a greater amount of immigrants then settlers.

United States Census Bureau: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36081.html

New York City’s Flyover State

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The reporter Kirk Semple did a great job in his New York Times article. Much so thanks to his abundance amount of interviewees. He was able to get interviews from creditable sources like Rob Mackay, director of public relations, marketing and tourism for the Queens Economic Development Corporation. Creditable sources only strengthen his overall idea that tourist are here to stay. Perspective was given from both the political and economical point of view and the relatable distant state tourists.

Overall the tone of this article is more of a fun writing piece I think. With a very low undertone of what could be the outcome. The real question is throughout reading his article, he never once interviewed a resident of Queens. He only looked through the looking glass from one side. What could have caught more eyes of readers and gentrificationist alike is, the idea of what is left unsaid from the original settlers.