Conflict Story Pitch–Astoria

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Dear Editor,

This semester, I’ve chosen to focus on Astoria, Queens and have been able to conduct a background study of it, as well as profiles of an Astoria resident and a local business. Astoria is known for it’s diversity and it’s busy avenues packed with an eclectic sort of stores and restaurants. However, Astoria’s diversity seems to be in jeopardy as rent prices raise, pushing out minorities, and enforcing a more predominantly white neighborhood.

The removal of the rent ceiling policy is to blame, as apartment complex owners are now free to charge their tenants as high a rent as they would like, with no repercussions. In order to get better prospective of this, I plan to get a closer look at the situation through an interview with an apartment complex owner. Peter Blidy has owned an apartment complex in Astoria on Newtown avenue for about twenty years, and would serve as an excellent primary source to see just how the renting in Astoria has changed over the years. He would be able to provide first-hand insight on the issue and possibly provide a reason for why some owners chose to raise their rent. Tenants of Astoria may also be a voice that I can include in my story since it will gain insight to how much of an inconvenience higher rent can be and whether or not it will drive them to move.

It’s important to find out why rent seems to be rapidly increasing and what this means for Astoria and it’s residents.

 

Sincerely,

Anita Bissoon

Conflict proposal

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Currently I am torn between two issues that are happening one is more recent.

Recently there have been protests and complaints about the construction of large storage buildings being constructed on Empire Boulevard. The council member on the community board has residents asking for her impeachment from the board.

I still have to do more research and go into community board meetings but it’s a start.

The second idea I have still deals with real-estate. It is the concept of affordable housing. What is it? Who is it affordable for? Do the current census and surveys accurately reflect everyone or one the ones who can afford to stay in apartments with high rising rents?

These are all questions I have for this conflict piece in this neighborhood.

Conflict Story Proposal

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According the District Needs Statement for the Fiscal year of 2016 in Glendale, NY one of the main issues that is causing a safety issue and needs to be addressed is the traffic conditions. I have seen this safety issues first hand because I live across an intersection where there is no stop sign. I live on a one way street where cars go into the intersection of 66th Street and Cooper Avenue. There is also a park so you can say in one intersection there are three vehicles turning which can cause a lot of accidents because there is no stop signs. I’ve also seen people make an illegal left turn when they are not supposed to.

This is not just an issue on my block that I’ve seen, there are many other areas of Glendale where there are no stop signs and even if there was the vehicles don’t care about it and just keep going. As the statement has said there are”large increases in vehicular traffic and too many drivers speeding, running traffic signals and stop signs” and this is due to the fact that there are not many officers at our local precinct that patrol the area. There are barely any traffic officers issuing out tickets but there are barely people illegally parking either. It’s not the issue if illegal parking that’s causing the issue but the fact that vehicles run red stop signs, do not stop at a stop sign, and speed as well. People’s lives are at risk and there are already reported vehicle damage due to these incidents.

Bayside conflict proposal

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The most glaring conflict in Bayside at the moment involves a proposed high school at 203-05 32 Ave., the site of the former Bayside Jewish Center.

There is a strong opposition to the proposed school and its location. One is that it is located in a congested area and too close to an existing school, Bayside High School, which will cause parking and public transportation problems. The chief complaint, however, is that the community was not consulted before the School Construction Authority decided on the site. The general sentiment seems to be that the SCA was underhanded in its acquirement of the site, since the news didn’t come out until contracts were being drawn up. This is not the first time that the SCA has clashed with the Bayside community. In 2014, it acquired a former plant nursery and began constructing an elementary school despite similarly massive backlash and vocal opposition. At this point, the fight seems to have become less focused on the school and more focused on improving the relationship between the SCA and the community, in order to avoid these conflicts in the future.

I’ve written about this before, but it really is the big current issue in Bayside. I think I’d have a chance to go more in depth on this story and the factors that make it such a big deal, and I’d perhaps have a chance to explore its actual impact on residents in the area around the former Center.

Conflict Story Proposal-Lenox Hill

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Many New Yorkers joke that the Second Avenue Subway project has been in the works since 1904 when the subway first opened and will never be finished, but the city has promised construction will cease in 2016.

When construction began, Second Avenue’s businesses and residents have suffered it’s consequences. Countless businesses have closed due to the restricted sidewalk space, traffic and it’s noise has increased exponentially, and residents have long endured the noise, vibrations, and smoke from the construction.

Since most of the actual drilling and heavy work is almost complete, there has been a slight revival on the Upper East Side, where the construction has hit the hardest. Restaurants are occupying spaces that were left vacant due to the construction, units are finally renting again, and residents are happier not having to deal with the noise and hassle of constant construction.

I would write about the conflict itself in great detail, and then profile a resident and a restaurant who have since benefitted from the so-called “revival” of the Upper East Side around Second Avenue Subway construction.

Conflict Proposal: Astoria

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A major conflict in Astoria is the proposal to close Shore Boulevard to through traffic. Shore Boulevard runs along the waterfront next to Astoria Park on the north-western side of Astoria. Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas proposed the closure earlier this year, and has received a mixed response from local residents.

Many feel that the boulevard should remain open, as it is a major road that many people travel to and from work on a daily basis and one of the main roads. Others feel that the road should be closed to allow for more pedestrians and bicyclists to ride along the shore that is next to the park. Astoria Park is a popular destination for runners, cyclists and dog-walkers.

There have been many traffic accidents along this stretch of road over the past few decades. More recently there have been two accidents caused by speeding pedestrians, where cars have driven off the road into the river. Many accidents have resulted in deaths of car passengers and pedestrians.

One local resident has started a petition against the proposal that has over a thousand supporters. The petition became so noticeable that Assemblywoman Simotas reached out to the resident for a conference about the proposal.

Alternatives to Assemblywoman Simotas’ proposal have been suggested, such as only closing half of the road, making a lane for cyclists, and changing the roadway to a one-way street, rather than a two-way street.

I want to learn more about the proposal and the feelings of those who live in the area, as well as how local business owners feels about the closing of the road and if they feel it will hurt business if a main road is closed down.

 

Staten Island Culture Lounge

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Staten Island Culture Lounge

For more information visit: Staten Island Culture Lounge, Facebook 

Photos and Story By: Alicea Ulmer

Like a nomad moving about seasonally to find necessities to live, Staten Island arts constantly changed homes for many years. Dating back to 1992, Staten Island arts has been on a mission to serve all of Staten Island. With no home space, they attended community events to meet artists and attract an audience. In 2010, they were renting basements to settle into and promote their art. Continue reading →

Back Where I Came From

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I agree that Liebling’s, “Back Where I Came From” is like a love letter. Through his description of New York and the people here, you can tell it is a place he truly loves. He talks about growing up here and says there is nothing better than New York and the people here. To him the women in New York are the most beautiful, and he can not compare New York to anywhere else including his friends travels. He truly made me feel as a reader that there is no place like New York. This is a very opinionated statement to make which is why I agree that this is very much like a love letter.