A Shadow Over the City

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Today, a new building is under construction somewhere on the streets of New York City. The gradual ascent of entire cranes mounted on incomplete skyscrapers and the inexplicable dismounting of these cranes is enough to bring awe to even the most experienced city-dwellers. Staring at those tall buildings brings to mind one question; how many people can own the space?

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Getting off from Line 6 of the convoluted railway at 51st Street Midtown East, the first things that come into sight is the four surrounding skyscrapers; two imposing buildings situated at 345 Park Avenue and 570 Lexington Avenue, accompanied by the prodigious Grolier Building and The Benjamin Hotel. Walking 5 blocks down reveals the number of skyscrapers on each block to average between 2 and 3, with at least 1 on each block. Every block in Midtown East has skyscrapers or construction proposals, as if it were mandatory to fill the skyline with construction, pushing the limit on just how tall these buildings can get. These excessive constructions, while demonstrating the financial superiority of many corporate businesses, overshadow any pre-existing local businesses and community centers that define the character that is New York City. While economic might is essential for what many refer to as the financial capital of the world, it should not be at the expense of the defining characteristics of the city’s underlying foundation.

One of the symptoms of a commanding corporate presence appears to the city’s apartment tenants as unreasonable rental bills. With increasing demand for housing near work-sites, the city’s rents have remained prohibitively expensive, contributing to its citation on Curbed as the “most expensive city in the world.” “I’m paying 2000 dollars a month for a very small bedroom and I still need to go out for a laundry.” says Akari Tanimoto, a 3rd year resident of an old apartment in Lower West, Manhattan. According to the Manhattan Rental Market Report from MNS, the average rent in Midtown East for one studio is $2744, while the rent for one bedroom is $3843. A second bedroom increases the rent by nearly twice as much, to an astounding $5591. When referring to the high living expenses of these newer housing alternatives, Tanimoto comments, “living alone in New York is such a burden. They’re only for luxurious people. I don’t know what kind of people lives in such tall buildings.”

It seems every skyscraper in New York City aims to be built higher, thinner, and pricier than the one that came before. Land is limited, especially in an island-city like Manhattan. Despite its global influence and fame, it is restricted to be smaller than other such cities. Thus, the city inevitably turned to the construction of towering skyscrapers, faithfully keeping in line with the saying, “The sky is the limit.”

Construction of these impressive buildings have led to local communities suffering a large, literal shadow cast over them. This resulted in the creation of the Community Board Five of the Central Park Sunshine Task Force, tasked to evaluate the influence, and recommend policy changes needed to respond to the rapid progress and development of ultra-luxury condo mega-towers along Central Park South. At a discussion held in the Manhattan Community Board Five, district midtown reports that “super tall towers in Midtown have largely been built as-of-right without any public review.” Those new skyscrapers are shadowing not just local stores, but also one of New York City’s most iconic recreational areas, Central Park.

These shadows are no longer an unexpected manner. Many of these new buildings are located relatively close to Central Park. Moreover, they are coincidentally organized in an arc that extends from the southeast to the southwest corner of the park; that is, approximately along the path of the sun. Though the impact of this construction will vary according to season, it is almost certain that the southern portion of the park will suffer from constant shade; more-so in the future, when this structural monolith extends even further around the park. Seven mega-towers such as ones on 111 West 57th Street, 53 West 53, and 520 Park Avenue are currently being built along the Central Park South corridor; at the same time, five other sites are being developed, with a number of potential soft sites clustered in the same area.

New construction technologies make it possible to build what used to be unreasonably tall infrastructure on relatively small lots. As of now, it seems certain that these new mega-towers will cast significantly longer shadows over Central Park than were ever anticipated by the New York City zoning resolution.

A blockage of sunlight towards Central Park may be catastrophic. It brings concerns over the lack of open-space transparency, lack of air circulation, and a general lack of sunlight. Yet, despite the popularity of these concerns, they represent only a portion of discontent arising from the conflict between financial giants of New York City, and the city’s local communities; a conflict that is comprised of construction safety, tax loopholes, and vulnerability of historic resources.

Lights Out In Washington Heights: Local Business Shutdowns

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A wall scribbled with graffiti is all that is left of the strip of local businesses located on 163rd Street and Broadway. The Dominican family-owned restaurant which served the typical arroz con habichuelas y pollo alorno (rice, beans and chicken) lunch for over 40 years, along with the barber shop where hundreds of locals got their haircuts, were left with no choice but to close down. Facing the same issue on the block was Sebastian Income Tax and Multiservices Inc., an agency many would use to send money to their native country and file their yearly taxes.20151209_132932

Now, facing the tough task of starting their businesses all over again, this recurring issue is evidence of gentrification in the neighborhood. Small business owners who once catered to the people of Washington Heights were forced to relocate after the landlord who bought the new property refused to renew their leases.

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Fruteria El Buen Camino

One business remains. Fruteria El Buen Camino is the lone fruit market left standing, something even the owner, Thelma Santana, describes as a “miracle.” She recounts how it all happened. “Three years ago, this strip changed landlords, and every couple of months we would get notices saying that our leases would not be renewed.”

After multiple meetings between the business owners and Coltown Properties LLC – the new real estate company who bought the strip – her prayers were answered. Santana’s business would remain, while every other local shop on the block would be shut down.

Jose Campos, owner of Sebastian Income Tax & Multiservices, Inc. describes the relocation situation differently.  “We were like little children being bribed with caramel candies,” he said, when recounting how the previous landlord told the business owners their leases would be renewed, only to send them letters to vacate the premises within the month after the properties were sold. In 2012, investors Israel Weinberger and Steven Neuman of Coltown Properties LLC. bought five buildings from the previous landlord for about $31 million dollars, and business owners on the strip quickly saw the changes occurring. As to why Fruteria El Buen Camino is the last business standing, Mr. Campos believes it’s their location that brought them good luck. “We’ve heard rumors about the new lounge and real estate office that will take over where our small businesses once were, and I believe the fruit market’s square footage wouldn’t add or take away from their plans to remodel. In our case, we were on both sides of her business and had a larger space, something they needed to rent at a higher price.”

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Sebastian Campos in his new office

Washington Heights has gone through many changes in the last couple of years due to gentrification. With a rise in the non-hispanic population in the neighborhood, the cost of living is rising and as a result, rents for both businesses and apartments are increasing, uprooting locals and forcing them to relocate.

According to the 2010 census, 48.4 percent of the White/Non-Hispanic population is over the $60,000 yearly income range. This is in stark contrast to the Hispanic/Latino population with only 24.3 percent making over that amount, and an average 75.7 percent making under $50,000 in yearly income. Washington Heights has quickly become the new “it” neighborhood due to the now low crime rate and affordable rent by New York City standards. Chain businesses and cafes offering free wifi and espresso lattes are increasing in quantity, leaving the beloved ethnic spots who served the community for years at a loss.

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Punta Cana Restaurant stood on this corner for over 40 years

Angel Santos, owner of Punta Cana – The Dominican food restaurant – was paying $7,900 in rent before they closed down, instead of the $5,000 they were accustomed to. “We were told that if we wanted to keep this business, our rent would increase to $9,000 a month. We could barely afford the current rent. Now I’m 80 years old and retired,” says Mr. Santos. He recounts the crime and hardships he faced to open his business 40 years ago, driving a taxi day and night in order to save up to rent the space. In an effort to save his business, Mr. Santos took Coltown Properties, LLC. to court, a case that resulted in the judge’s ruling in favor of the new landlord. Representatives at Coltown Properties, LLC. were not available for comment, but of the case’s ruling, Mr. Santos says “In the blink of an eye, it was gone….we had to struggle here, and now I have nothing.”

With the 18.4 increase in the non-Hispanic population increase in Washington Heights over the last five years, new chain businesses are weeding out the current small businesses in the neighborhood. “We have no small business laws on our side” said Mr. Campos, who also filed a case against the new landlord along with Mr. Santos of Punta Cana Restaurant. “Thankfully we’ve relocated now, but we’re not on Broadway anymore, causing a drastic change in our foot traffic.” Sebastian and his wife remain hopeful that business will pick up, now that they’ve posted their relocation sign where their agency once stood.

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Victor Campos- owner of Fruteria El Buen Camino

For Thelma Santos of Fruteria El Buen Camino, the blessings “continue to pour.” The new landlord, Mr. Weinberger, of Coltown Properties, LLC has decided to renovate her entire market, to make the strip more appealing to the public. “It’s more than we could’ve asked for.We thank God everyday” she says. With the help of her husband, Victor Campos, she hopes to remain in the area for years to come,  offering the people of Washington Heights fresh, local produce.

For Punta Cana Restaurant and Sebastian Income Tax & Multiservices, Inc. the situation ended differently. In the midst of gentrification, Washington Heights is a neighborhood changing right before residents’ eyes. The beloved local spots are rapidly disappearing, and being replaced with mainstream shops and restaurants. The increase in income and non-Hispanic population has been a crucial factor in causing the gentrification, changing Washington Heights from a predominantly Caribbean population to a more diverse one. When asked what their thoughts were on the events happening in the neighborhood, all the small business owners had a similar opinion – change is always welcome, but Washington Heights is no longer the same neighborhood they once knew.

A Proposal for Safety Strips Astoria of Decades of Traditions

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Hell Gate w: Barge

The Hell Gate Bridge stretches from Astoria, Queens to Randalls and Wards Islands.

On any given morning, residents flock to Astoria Park to begin their day. Joggers put on their running shoes and take in the brisk air as they make their way down the sidewalk on Shore Boulevard. Toddlers strapped in their strollers enjoy the site of the barges making their way down the East River and under the Hell Gate Bridge. A dozen dogs of all sizes run through the grass playing with each other. One dog runs towards the street chasing a speeding car, driven by a man who is running late for work.

Soon the man driving that car may need to change his routine. In August of 2015 Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas wrote a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), proposing to close Shore Boulevard to all through traffic, with the exception of emergency vehicles, due to the amount of vehicle related accidents that have occurred over the decades, as well has noise violations coming from the busy street. Residents who utilize the 1.1-mile stretch of road oppose the proposal, claiming it will take away from the traditions of Astoria residents.

“The truth is that many residents take their families over there to enjoy the waterfront view,” Peter Argyris, creator of a petition against the assemblywoman’s proposal, writes on his change.org page. “This is a tradition that has been happening for generations.” Argyris’ petition, titled “We Say No to Banning Cars on Shore Boulevard at Astoria Park” has over one thousand signatures.

“We all have memories of driving down Shore Boulevard,” Says another resident, Sal Feola, Jr., who feels closing the road will ruin the Astoria tradition. On weekends and days off, the local teenagers and young adults would drive down to Astoria Park and hang out by the river.

 

A Proposal to Make Shore Boulevard a Safer Place

Assemblywoman Simotas’ proposal is not the first to address the problems of Shore Boulevard. A representative for the Queens Community Board 1 stated that in the 1980s the DOT and community leaders did a walk-about of Short Boulevard in an attempt to find a solution to the traffic issues. At that time, the DOT decided the best solution to the speeding would be to add speed bumps along the road, running from Ditmars Boulevard to Astoria Park South.

Pedestrian and Bike Lane along Shore Blvd.

A pedestrian and bicycle lane runs parallel to Shore Boulevard through Astoria Park.

“What it really should be is a pedestrian walkway,” Simotas told DNAinfo.com. “There would be a lot more people who could utilize and enjoy that area.”

Though the petition does call for a closing of Shore Boulevard to all vehicular traffic, other variations are being considered, according to Queens Community Board 1. One suggested alternative would change the road from a two-way street to a one-way with a bicycle lane.

 

Death and Disaster in Astoria Park

According to the New York Police Department’s 114th Precinct, between August 2011 and June 2015, 18 traffic accidents occurred on Shore Boulevard, four of which caused injury. One such accident occurred in April 2014 near 20th Avenue, when an SUV carrying four plowed through a brick wall, plunging into the East River at around 4:00 A.M. All passengers escaped with minor injuries.

Betty Jean Memorial

A memorial to Betty Jean Diblasio at the site of her death remains displayed to this day.

Betty Jean Diblasio was not so lucky. A driver ran a stop sign at Ditmars Boulevard, killing the 21-year-old this past June. The driver fled the scene, turning himself in the next day.

 

A “Nightclub” to Many

The straight stretch of road connecting two main roads is not only a haven for speeding drivers and drag racing motorcyclists, but also for late night partygoers.

Local residents describe Shore Boulevard as a “nightclub,” where people flock at all hours of the night into the early morning to dance, drink, smoke pot and blast music from their cars.

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Fisherman enjoy midday activities at Shore Boulevard, while a local Police Officer from the 114th Precinct patrols the area.

“There has always been a noise issue at Astoria Park,” long-time resident Michael DeSimini says. He recalls times during his teenage years when he and his friends would drive down to Shore Boulevard. “We would hang out there until two or three in the morning sometimes.” As a teenager, DeSimini enjoyed the times he spent with friends by the East River, but now as an adult, he realizes the problems that it causes. “Its an annoyance to the older residence and does cause a safety issue,” he says.

Due to its secluded location between and beyond the Hell Gate and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridges, the area is a haven for nighttime festivities. The noise problem was addressed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his “Operation Silent Night” program, which started in late 2002.  The program, as described in a press release, was implemented “to combat loud and excessive noise.” The program targeted 24 areas throughout the five boroughs that were deemed “plagued by chronic and disruptive problems like noise.”

 

Opposition Despite the Complaints and Agreement Despite the Traditions

Despite the traffic and noise complaints of many residents, the proposal to close Shore Boulevard was met with much opposition. The petition created by Peter Argyris says that if the proposal to close the road is passed, it will “ruin…tradition and decrease the quality of life in the neighborhoods.”

The Two-Way Lanes on Shore Blvd

Shore Boulevard provides easy access to view from the East River.

Sal Feola, Jr. shares Argyris’ point-of-view, saying that closing Shore Boulevard will take away from the appeal of Astoria Park.

“I like driving on Shore Boulevard,” Feola, Jr. says. “If I am going to visit the waterfront, I am going to drive there.” He believes that closing the roadway would make viewing the roadway inconvenient. “It’s part of life in Astoria.”

Michael DeSimini, however, feels that despite these traditions, closing Shore Boulevard will benefit the community. He agrees that driving down to Shore Boulevard is a part of life in Astoria but that the well-being of the community is more important.

“There are so many accidents there and the kids hanging out drinking and doing drugs just creates an unsafe environment,” DeSimini says. Closing Shore Boulevard, in his opinion, is a crucial step to improving the quality of life in Astoria. “I know a lot of people would feel better living here if they didn’t have to worry about being struck by a drunk driver after their evening run.”

 

Discussion Arises Amongst Residents and Officials

After drafting his petition against the assemblywoman’s proposal, Peter Argyris received a letter from Simotas, requesting a meeting to discuss his concerns of her proposal. Shortly after, Planning Board 1 member Tony Meloni wrote an open letter on givemeastoria.com supporting Argyris’ petition.

Police Patrol Shore Blvd. Near the Hell Gate

Police Officers regularly patrol Shore Boulevard.

“Probably 80% or the people who come to visit Astoria Park and Shore Boulevard …come by car,” Meloni’s letter reads. He claims the reasoning behind the proposed closure are “nonsensical,” stating that the drag racing, crime and noise issues are minimal and are not cause for concern.” He goes on to argue that closing that stretch of road because of noise pollution would just move the issues to the nearby residential streets.  He ends his letter by saying “please leave our ‘Miracle Mile’… alone.”

 

The Finalized Decision

Meloni’s letter and Argyris’ petition were part of the discussion held at the Town Hall Meeting in late October of 2015. Assemblywoman Simotas, along with Councilman Costa Constantinides and the State DOT ran the meeting to discuss the proposal.

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A view of Manhattan and the Robert F. Kennedy Triboro Bridge from Shore Boulevard.

After the meeting, Argyris’ posted an update to his change.org petition, stating “it was unanimously decided… that Shore Boulevard will not close.” He was invited to speak at the Astoria Civic Association Meeting that was held in November, where he presented the final updated petition to the Commissioner of the DOT, Polly Trottenberg.

According to Argyris’ petition, Commissioner Trottenberg declared that there are no plans to close Shore Boulevard and that the DOT will continue to look into enhancing safety issue in the area.

Trapped In A Box Of Noise

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It’s five o’clock in the morning and the sirens are already blaring. The red, white, and blue flashing lights pierce through the windows. One street south, you can hear the cheers and roars of a sports bar that has sponsors from colleges throughout the East Coast, all while happening on a Wednesday. Across the street, you hear the hammering noise and loud barks of construction workers as they begin their day shift. Unfortunately, it’s a daily occurrence.

Many people who live in Kips Bay have to suffer from the factors of noise pollution, and the cost of living in the neighborhood goes against what the comfort factor for the residents. Noise pollution, although loud in most areas in Manhattan, is most particular in Kips Bay. The reason is due to the abundance of sport bars, which draw crowds during major sporting events. Tying this with the excessive number of hospitals in the neighborhood, police precincts, and firehouses, Kips Bay is a hot spot for noise pollution.

To keep a massive metropolitan city afloat and running smoothly on a daily basis, it is no question that there needs to exist construction in order to maintain its function towards to public. Without construction exists a city filled with potholes and problems. However, it does come with a non-monetary based tax, a noise tax. With day and night shifts, Kips Bay is to be a hot spot for construction zones. Sometimes, there do exist easy fixes, but most of the time that is not the case.

One particular street, 25th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR has been in construction for the past year, with no signs of it being remotely complete. “Construction is taking a toll on the traffic,” construction worker Matthew O’Connor states, with his broad shoulders and helmet still resting firmly on his head, covering his face from the dirt that has already traced down to his ripped jeans and boots. In addition, the Brookdale Hunter College Campus is scheduled to be demolished in 2017, turning the campus into a parking garage for garbage facility trucks, thereby creating an entire street of Kips Bay under construction.

Construction plan lasting well over a few years.

In terms of decibels, construction in the area of 25th Street between FDR and 1st Avenue is around 95-100 decibels. As a comparison, ninety decibels is the equivalent of a motorcycle and 100 decibels is the equivalent to a helicopter. The noise pollution of construction zones in Kips Bay has a roaring effect in the community for both dormitories and apartment residences. In addition to the loud noise, the entire strip of 25th Street between FDR and 3rd Avenue has at least one major construction zone lasting longer than a year, causing massive backup in traffic. This is particularly not good considering that there are three hospitals in those surrounding areas.

Seen on 25th Street between FDR and 1st Avenue, entire sections of Manhattan's grid has been shut off for construction.

Seen on 25th Street between FDR and 1st Avenue, entire sections of Manhattan’s grid has been shut off for construction.

 

Bellevue, New York University Hospital and VA Medical Center all are in the Kips Bay area. This means that for every three streets and two avenues, on average, there is at least one hospital and/or medical center. The obstruction that construction zones have made has already created an issue in the fairly large amount of hospitals and medical centers around the community. Most times, ambulances are stuck in traffic, partly due to these construction zones. This only furthers the issue of noise pollution. Now, instead of a Doppler effect that lasts about twenty seconds, there is a longer time frame for the ambulance to accelerate towards and away from one’s place of origin. On a given weekday, pedestrians can hear the jackhammer of a construction zone and the blaring siren of an ambulance. Also, during the evenings on weekends, you can hear the din of sport bars and also the ambulances.

Regardless of time, ambulances always exist, and that creates enormous amounts of noise pollution. The abundance of ambulances and medical centers only worsens the contribution of noise, although it is for the benefit of the community. “I understand people get annoyed by it, but ambulances are part of everyday New York life,” firefighter Janusz Lewandowski states. Although it is true that ambulances help the community, it can also be said that ambulances, or the abundance of such, cause such noise pollution that it irritates the residencies.

The main issue with Kips Bay’s noise pollution is that it is very difficult to resolve. There are numerous hospitals within the area, as well as construction zones. All of these factors of noise pollution have a commonality of being very difficult to remove from a community. Of course, whenever somebody is injured, they need an ambulance, whenever somebody needs help, they need to call the police, and wherever there exist potholes, there exists a construction team ready to fill them up. The main reason why all of these contributors to noise pollution exist is for the greater good. Each of these entities helps the community, and therefore can have difficulty being removed. However, there is one contributor to noise pollution that is not exactly a benefactor for the community- public businesses.

Most public businesses around Kips Bay are fairly quiet, but one particular type of business stands out from the crowd. Sport bars have been commonly known to cause a stir in noise complaints within Kips Bay. Local resident Nora Baberian, in her early sixties with golden, curly hair, petite in size, in her second language states that, “It could be three in the morning and people would still be cheering and screaming. I can’t move out; I’ve lived here for decades and my apartment is rent controlled.” Bringing clarity to the topic, some residents stay not for the lifestyle, but for the bargain. For some, the headache of noise costs less than the apartments in which they live.

One specific sports bar, Tonic, is notorious for its loud music that plays late at night during Fridays and Saturdays. On a given weekend, the decibel frequency can peak at around 110 decibels, which is the equivalent to the noises of rock concerts and chainsaws. This means, on any given Friday and Saturday, and sometimes even during the weekday if it just so happens there is a major sporting event taking place, the dynamic of a rock concert can take the place of the sounds from the bar.

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Tonic displayed in the middle of Kips Bay, with three floors of din every Friday-Sunday.

What possible solutions can arise because of this conflict? There can be set guidelines for each type of business, such as permitting for noises above a certain decibel range. Certainly, some businesses in Kips Bay create a nuisance for the community, making it a difficult place to live. As for now, the buildings that house fire trucks and ambulances still remain, but the construction zones will die out as more will blossom. As for now, there are no plans to decrease the noise pollution in Kips Bay.

Blue Laws: to Have or Not to Have?

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New Project from fortune on Vimeo.

A video showing the contrast in activity during the week in downtown Englewood. The flow of traffic does not stop while customers enjoy walking in and out of shops.

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A peaceful and serene Sunday afternoon with no traffic on South Dean Street, downtown Englewood

Blaring car horns and inescapable traffic encompass downtown Englewood on a typical weekday. Shoppers race to their favorite boutiques, with a Starbucks in hand, as they attempt to get the best sale. Once Sunday hits, the congestion ceases, silence takes over, and few customers are seen, a shift attributed to the blue laws.

“Englewood is a ghost town on Sundays,” said local resident, Lita Avitan. “Walking down Palisades Avenue you’ll only see people running to the grocery store or sitting at a café. The real action lies in the shopping.”

Of the 21 counties in New Jersey, Bergen County is the only one to preserve the blue laws. Enacted in New Jersey in 1854, the blue laws are designed to restrict commercial activities on Sundays and promote a Christian Sabbath, a day of rest or worship. The term “blue,” coined by Reverend Samuel Peters described Puritan laws and those who followed them, contrary to the belief that the laws were written on blue paper.

Where it once was used to encourage church attendance, today the blue laws are used as a matter of convenience—to reduce traffic. It is a day where a beautiful jacket, a frying pan, or a couch cannot be purchased as all clothing, furniture, and appliance sales are banned. The only shops left opened for business are the necessities: chic restaurants, local supermarkets, and gas stations.

Sundays are sacred to Englewood residents with the weekdays described as a nightmare of frantic shoppers, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and sheer chaos. Home to four shopping malls in a three mile radius, the jammed packed highways cause residents to desperately seek the peace and quiet found under the law. “The blue laws keep a sense of tradition as well as calmness in Bergen County,” said resident of 20 years, Oshrat Nachum. “Shopping is certainly accessible during the week and no longer a necessity on Sunday.” Others hope to eliminate the blue laws as a means to continue shopping and revitalize the town’s economy.

Englewood’s problem is stagnant as its Planning Board is unable to repeal the act since it’s under state and county jurisdiction. With the power to revoke the law in the hands of state and county boards, the tension proceeds to heighten among local residents and business owners who debate if stores should be open.

A Personal Sentiment

Residents appreciate the blue laws’ ability to keep Englewood a traditional suburban community on Sundays instead of one that is consumed by shopping. On a typical Sunday morning, resident of 38 years, Rafi Amirian steps outside of his home and sees kids riding bicycles, neighbors talking, and leaves falling on the pavement, a sight he doesn’t get to see during his hectic week.

“Sundays are my only days to be active, go for a nice walk in the park, or watch my sons’ baseball game,” he said. “I don’t want to sit in traffic all day just to buy a new shirt, that’s what the weekdays are for.”

Although this idea of relaxation and religious observance on Sunday serves the “greater good” with less traffic and materialistic distractions, the large Jewish community in Englewood would benefit from the removal of the blue laws.

Religious Orthodox Jews celebrate the Sabbath, their day of rest, on Saturday, where they are prohibited to work, use electric items, or spend money. In a study done in 2000, Bergen County estimated to have 83,700 Jews with 5,500 in Englewood while the largest synagogue in the area, Congregation Ahavath Torah, welcomed 98 new families in the years 2008 to 2012. Although Amirian is generally in favor of the laws, from a Jewish perspective he believes “the blue laws only take into account those who observe the Sabbath on Sundays,” he said. “As Jews, we can’t go out on Saturday and then again on Sunday, so we lose two days to run errands.”

An Economic Dilemma 

“Errand days,” commonly associated with Sundays for most shoppers, would create an opportunity to generate higher incomes and revenue for the city if stores were to open. Opening on Sunday or even in the late afternoon would please those who attend religious functions and those who rather shop according to resident, Esther Sasouness. “I don’t see the harm in getting rid of the blue laws or opening stores later than regular business days so workers can still have time to maintain their religious traditions,” she said. “People sleep in on Sundays so stores wouldn’t get a significant amount of customers until noon anyway.”

For many storeowners in Englewood, opening on Sunday would greatly improve business. It would add 3,200 jobs to Bergen County and more than $1.1 billion in retail sales according to CBSnews.com.

Moosavi Rugs & Home Furnishings, a rug company with 38 years of experience in the industry, hangs a large sign with the words “Going Out of Business,” in red bold letters on its front door. The owner has decided to retire at the end of this year but General Manager, Jose Cabrera, feels the blue laws hurt their business. “Everyday is money,” he said. “The weekends are the busiest days of the week so if we have to close on Sundays we’re losing money.”

Moosavi does not stand alone in the fight for greater business opportunities as fellow shop owner, Elanna Levy would like to have the power to decide if her store opens on Sunday or not, without a law forcing her to close. She owns Reve Boutique, a store where mothers come with their daughters to pick a perfect gown for any occasion. Since her store is closed on Sundays, some of her customers rather drive 20 minutes away to Manhattan to get the dresses they need.

“Most of my clients are young girls who go to school during the week,” she said. “They don’t have time to shop until Saturday or Sunday. If I could open on Sunday it would add an extra day of business.”

The battle to keep stores open continues, but some owners intend to keep the blue laws the way they are. The local pharmacy store, Buckley’s Drug Store and Compounding Center, remains closed on Sunday although technically drug stores are allowed to open as it is seen as a necessity for residents to get essential goods. Owner, Gil Dominguez, works six days of the week, giving himself and his workers only one day off to recover from the stressful week. “Since we all work so hard everyday, it’s important to have one day to rest,” he said. “If I opened on Sundays, I would have to hire and train a new staff, which would cost a lot of money.”

For the food industry, closing on Sunday would be unfathomable. It is the only industry that does not feel the pressure and inconvenience imposed by the blue laws. All seven days a week, restaurants are open, bringing in customers from near and neighboring towns to share in the experience of a lively atmosphere and delicious cuisine.

Owner of Hummus Elite, a place of traditional Israeli food, closes his restaurant on Saturday to observe the Sabbath. If Shlomo Cohenn could not open on Sundays too, his business would suffer. “Sunday nights are our busiest day of the week,” he said. “Families, couples, friends all come in and have dinner. I could never close on Sunday, it would hurt my business.”

A Test Trial For The Future

As an attempt to settle this issue, in 2010 Governor Chris Christie proposed a plan in which eliminating New Jersey’s Blue Laws would create $65 million in sales tax, strengthening the state’s economy. This proposal was quickly shut down as residents feared increased traffic and differed in their feelings of its effectiveness to boost the economy. Yet, in light of the devastation brought by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, residents of Bergen County saw what it would be like to have their favorite stores open, but for one Sunday only.  Christie lifted the ban on November 11th to recover the states economy as residents began to rebuild their homes with access needed to retail shops.

Resident Yael Sinai was left to question the future of her town. She said, “If the government has the ability to retract the blue laws for one Sunday to boost the economy, we can only imagine the difference if we completely abolished the law.”

Proposal for Business piece

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Since reading Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Gets Its Turn It showed how Crown Heights has two sides of it. I got interested in the idea of two sides of a neighborhood  and how people who may have lived here for a while are adapting to the new tastes that newcomers from different neighborhoods or different boroughs have. The idea came from walking down Franklin Avenue and  St.John Pl street. On the Right hand side ( St. John Plaza side) looked very different from the left side where I was walking which  had  either closed down restaurants and stores and I wondered how are some stores still surviving? Vee’s Jamaican restaurant has been one of the oldest there and it’s still crowded with costumers while still staying humble in decor and design and it’s flavor. Then there is another business that sells breakfast and lunch items with vegan and vegetarian alternatives and I wanted to do a contrast between them.

Pitch for Profile on Richard Green

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Richard Green has been a member of Crown heights for many years he would be described as an activist due to his influence in calming the troubled waters in the Crown Heights Riots in 1991. He would be the best person to talk to about the changes in crown heights as well as his experience as a longtime resident in Crown heights. He is also part of the Crown Heights youth collective on 113 Rogers avenue. I want to know what he sees for the future of crown heights and Newcomers to Crown Heights. As well as if he dealing with generations of residents particularly black youths in the neighborhood how his teaching methods might have changed with each new generation.

Pitch for Battle in Crown heights

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After seeing flyers about meetings with MTOPP around the Empire Boulevard and hearing about the district manager’s removal from the community board and research I decided to cover how a battle that has been dragged out over a year between the community ( or rather MTOPP) and community board nine in crown heights was about. Going in I really didn’t know what was going on but after reading articles from DNAinfo.com I got the idea of it. Two key figures Pearl Miles and Alicia Boyd who is the founder of MTOPP.

A.J Liebling

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Critic Philip Hamburger has described Back Where I Came From as a “love letter to the City of New York.” Do you agree or disagree? If so, how and why does Liebling express his views? What techniques does he use as a reporter/writer?

I agree with this view because Liebling’s fondness of New York is evident through his writing. His description of the people of NYC, the streets and how every day is different in the city shows how much he enjoys it. As a reporter I noticed that Liebling uses descriptive language to provide the reader with a visual of what New York City is like. He also tells us how the city has changed, and follows a timeline to let the reader know what he’s experienced in NYC during his time here.