Tag Archives: mary barnes

Joe Gould

Posted on by

I believe the term “high-life low-life” fits Joe Gould very well. He was definitely a “low-life” in that he was homeless, lived off of handouts and his diet consisted mainly of ketchup. Many people would probably look down at him as a vagrant at first glance. Despite this, Gould’s life was anything but low. Coming from a well-to-do family in the outskirts of Boston and being Harvard educated, Gould had intelligence and a unique few of the world. His eccentricities and aversion to money and physically possessions makes him more of a “high-life”. He sees the world in a different way than most would. Life for him was not about monetary values, but about experience.

Mitchell portrayed him in this “high-life low-life” way, showing us what Gould valued in his life other than money. Despite being homeless, Gould kept company with some of New York’s most successful and famous people, going to upscale parties quite frequently, adding to his “high-life” qualities. To those attending these parties and seeing him for the first time, he may seem a “low-life” when he begins reciting poems in “seagull” and flapping his arms about. Mitchell wrote that those at the party often came to enjoy Gould’s company by the end of the day. The story of Joe Gould shows us the value and life he had as a human being, not as a homeless man without a dime to his name.

Invisible Children

Posted on by

 

I think Elliott did an excellent job of profiling Dasani. Her last name was omitted for her protection, as she is not only homeless but a minor. The story was long, but was necessary to fully show the dimensions of this young girl and her family. If Elliott had added in more information on politics and policy, it would take the focus away from Dasani. I believe it did become a caricature of a more complex issue. By focusing solely on one person’s story, the reader is able to get a greater understanding of what goes on in the life of the homeless. By focusing on Dasani, we get a broader picture of what other homeless people’s lives are like. I personally began to think about what talents others may have that aren’t fully used because of the circumstances of homelessness.

 

Elliot really shone a light into the life of a person who otherwise would have been ignored. As the title of her feature suggests, homeless children are often not thought about in society but are a major part of homelessness. This feature gave us a detailed look into not only the living conditions but the talents and hope of this young girl. It allowed us to see homeless people as just that. Homeless has a large stigma and people who are homeless are generally categorized as that, and not by any talents they may have. It was refreshing to see Elliott show these sides of Dasani and her family instead of focusing on the homelessness.

Backgrounder- Astoria, NY

Posted on by

Location & Borders

Astoria, New York is located in the north western corner of the borough of Queens. It is bordered by the East River on the western and northern sides. It borders Woodside, NY at 50th street on the western side and Northern Boulevard, Jackson Heights on the southern side. Some parts of Astoria are considered Long Island City. The part of Astoria bordering the East River is considered “Old Astoria.”

 

Demographics

The population of Astoria according the the 2010 US Census is 78,793. This shows an 11.6% decrease from 2000. Old Astoria has a recorded population of 27,814, a 3.6% decrease. According to the American Community Survey, the most recent population is 126,072.  Of that, 61,811 were males and 64,261 were females. 13.2% of people living in Astoria are between the ages of 25 and 29, the highest percentage on the chart. The second highest was ages 30 to 34 with 10.9% and third was 35 to 39 with 8.5%. Astoria is 61.9% white, 9.3% black, 14.6% Asian, and 14.3% other races. According to Queens Community Board 1, Astoria is the most ethnically diverse community in NYC with 118 different nationalities and a high number of immigrants. The two largest ethnic groups in Astoria are Greeks (8.8%) and Italians (10.3%).

 

 

Crime Statistics

Astoria is rated 121 on the Crime Risk Scale. The average in the United States is 100.  The risk of murder is 138, rape is 85 and robbery is 297. According to Police Records, the year to date number of murders for 2015 is 6, rape is 11, robbery is 148 and grand larceny is 465. These are all decreased numbers from the year 2010. The crime rates in Astoria are lower than the Queens Borough average. The number of murders per thousand residents is 0.004932 in Astoria, and 0.007060 in Queens. Robbery is at 0.1282 in Astoria and 0.1407 in Queens. Felony assault in Astoria is 0.1430 and Queens is 0.1669.

 

Current Hot Button Issues

Astoria is home to Kaufman Astoria Studios, formerly known as Paramount Movie Studios. A project is in the works to expand the movie studio. Kaufman Astoria is located off of Steinway street near Long Island City.

In Old Astoria, a long time issue is being faced at the waterfront. A local Assemblywoman has proposed closing Shore Boulevard to vehicular traffic, stirring up the local community with support and opposition.

Also in Old Astoria, the diving pool at the park is being transformed into a performance space. This also has gotten its fair share of opposition and support.

 

Community Leaders & Organizations

Astoria and Old Astoria are serviced by the Queens Community Board 1. This board also serves Long Island City, Queensbridge, Ditmars, Ravenswood, Steinway, Garden Bay and Woodside. They are located at 45-02 Ditmars Boulevard, Suite LL 125. The chairperson of the board in Vinicio Donato. The manager is Lucille Hartmann. Their meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm.

The Greater Astoria Historical Society is located at 35-20 Broadway on the 4th floor. Other notable resources are the Astoria Park Alliance and the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association.

 

Police Department Information

Astoria is patrolled by the 114th Precinct of the New York Police Department. The community affairs office number is 718-626-9327.

 

Housing

There are 58,500 housing units in Astoria. 82% of those are rentals. This is higher than the rental rate in Queens as a whole (55.5%) and New York City (77.4%).

 

Education

40.2% of Astoria residents aged 25 and older hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

Financial & Employment Data

According to the American Community Survey, the average income of Astoria residents is $63, 645. The median income is $51,988. This median income is higher than the average in NYC as a whole ($51,865) and Queens overall ($56,780). This shows a 36% increase from 2000 and a 2% increase from 2010. The survey also shows that 68,476 residents are employed and the unemployment rate is 9.6%, lower than the Queens average. Astoria has a 73.1% labor force participation rate.

12.5% of employed Astoria residents work in food service or accommodation. 10.2% work in health care or social assistance. 9.9% work in retail and 9.7% are in professional, scientific or technical service. The average commute to work is 36 minutes, compared to the average 42 minutes for the rest of Queens. Astoria residents are also a third more likely to rely on public transportation to get to work.

Neighborhood Profile Proposal

Posted on by

Salvatore Feola has been a resident of Astoria, NY since the 1950s when he immigrated to Astoria from Naples, Italy at the age of 16. The oldest of thirteen children, he had dropped out of school eight years old to begin working, providing for his growing family. He left Italy for America in hopes of attaining the American Dream. Throughout his hometown, rumors swirled of the wonders New York City holds for immigrants. The streets were paved with gold. Salvatore was disappointed when New York was nothing like he had heard. He moved to Astoria where he lived with other Italian immigrants who taught him English and found employment.

He worked at pizzeria for a while and eventually opened his own pizzeria in the 1970s. His business was a booming success, and the neighborhood families recall his pizza being the best they’d ever had. He didn’t let the success of his business thwart his work ethic. Every day, he opened the store at 5am and closed at 10pm, even on holidays. After the death of his wife to breast cancer and a heart attack, Salvatore decided to close his business and retire in 1993.

I chose Salvatore for this article because his experiences tell the story of most immigrants from the 1950s who came to America for success. I would love to learn how he overcame the challenges he faced and how he became as successful as he was. I would also love to learn how Astoria has changed in the past 60 years from the perspective of someone who came here with a visions of gold and fortune.

2 Jobs At The Sugar Factory and a Lump In the Throat

Posted on by

Does the writer give us more than Robert Shelton’s personal history?

  • Yee gave us a look into Robert Shelton’s personal history, but also into the history of the Domino’s Sugar, the factory and the lives of others who had worked there in the past. She also delved into Shelton’s personal feelings about the factory and about his life.

Describe the narrative of this profile, the arc of the story.

  • The narrative starts discussing Robert Shelton in the present at the factory. As the article goes on, it begins to talk about Shelton’s past and what it was like working at the factory. It then continues on chronologically through the history of the factory and the life of Shelton until we are brought back to the present day.

What do you think of the lead?

  • I think the lead was excellent. To me, it read like the opening of a novel and held my attention. It did a great job of introducing the story and giving the reader a look into the history of the person the article covered.

Where is the nut graf?

  • The nut graf is in the second and third paragraphs where Yee mentions what the Domino’s factory is now, the Sphinx and the sculpture by Walker.

What about the author’s point-of-view?

  • The author’s point-of-view seems to be positive. The way she describes the factory and Shelton’s memories of the factory seem to be put in a positive light. She focuses on the good things that were experienced. In speaking about the heat Shelton worked in, it is made to seem like it was a wonderful thing, whereas others would describe how miserable working in such high temperatures would be. That shows the positive angle the story takes.

250 Words on Astoria

Posted on by

     The neighborhood I have chosen is Astoria in Queens. I chose this neighborhood because it is where I grew up. I moved away 10 years ago, but whenever I go to visit my family, I see changes happening all around me. Astoria is not the place I once knew. I have noticed a change in the types of businesses that are thriving. Classic diners, pizzerias and clothing stores are going out of business and more organic markets and juice bars are opening. I have also noticed many places are going out of business relatively quickly. Some buildings have ownership and business changes every few years. I think it would be fascinating to learn more about why these places keep closing, and what the owners who have been successful in the area are doing to maintain their profits.

     There is an individual I would like to profile named Andreana Verona. She is a local tattooist from Italy who opened her own shop in 2004, after traveling and tattooing around the world honing her craft. Her shop was named one of the best tattoo shops in New York City by clients and was mentioned in an article on CBS New York’s website.

     There are many local businesses, but the one that stands out most to me is Queens Comfort. The restaurant opened in 2011 and has quickly become a favorite amongst Astoria residents. This pop culture themed eatery serves comfort food with a twist. On the weekends, the line out the door could span to the end of the block.

     An issue in Astoria that I found to be of interest was the proposed closing of Shore Boulevard in Astoria Park to make a pedestrian walkway. The street is along the shore line next to the park and has been the subject of complaints for many years. There have been many fatal car accidents due to driver’s speeding down the road. Many people gather at Astoria Park to ride their bicycles, walk their dogs or even take their children to watch the boats go by. The proposal has angered some residents who enjoy driving and commute via Shore Boulevard. Others are in favor of the road being closed to make the place safer.

Queens Tourists

Posted on by

This article presented data that show the increase in tourism in Queens in the recent years in comparison to the other boroughs. Along with statistics, the writer uses quotes to further show this increase. In the fourth paragraph, the writer states that “Lonely Planet made a decision” that named Queens the number one tourist destination. What the article does not state is what this decision was based on. The term “made a decision” makes it seem as if the Lonely Planet contributors sat down and discussed and agreed on a place, rather than naming it based on data. Though data is presented throughout the rest of the article, it is still unclear as to how this decision was made.

Further more, I appreciate the diversity in the quotes he attained, interviewing tourists as well as individuals who work in tourism and the like. It allows readers to see both sides of the coin. Queens is the number one tourist destination because the statistics show this increase, but also because these tourists enjoy the area.

The writer has a paragraph that details a conversation Rob MacKay had with a French journalist who said “everybody in Paris is talking about Long Island City.” This paragraph gives us a look into how people around the world are talking about Queens, lending to the idea that it is a popular destination. The paragraph, however, is very conversational and awkwardly phrased. It would have been better off not being a direct quote, but rather a summary of the conversation as MacKay told it.

E.B. White “Here Is New York”

Posted on by

1.) What is your impression of the opening line of White’s book: “New York bestows gifts of loneliness and the gifts of privacy.” Do you agree or disagree with White? If so, why? If not, why not? How effective is the opening? What does it accomplish, if anything?

The opening line gives the reader a glance into White’s mindset and thoughts about New York City, allowing them to get an idea of the tone of the rest of the book. I agree that New York “bestows gifts of loneliness and…privacy.” The city is so large that one can often feel small and lost in the hustle and bustle. A place with such grandness often makes people feel alone. Despite the overabundance of people, there is a sense of privacy in that everyone is generally more concerned with themselves and their own issues or tasks that they often don’t take notice of others, allowing for that sense of privacy. I feel the opening was very effective. It establishes the topic of the book and it gives the reader a look into White’s view of NYC.

2. How and why does the writer use lists in this book?

The writer uses lists in paragraph form as description. He lists places, situations and people in a way that exemplified that topic being discussed. These examples give the reader a deeper look into New York, aiding in their comprehension of the subjects presented.