Joseph O’Connor: Readings “From an Irish Male”

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Queen

Captivating and inspiring; those are just a couple of the words that can be used to describe the atmosphere at the book reading by Joseph O’Connor. At the beginning of the readings he discussed his love of going to the library and poets that inspired him, such as John Dunn. He then went about reading pieces of his own work. He began by reading a piece where he describes the first time he became aware of singer Patti Smith. In his eyes the word pretty could not describe Patti Smith “she was something much more troubling… [she was] androgynous, sullen, unconventionally gorgeous…” He then went on to read selected passages from his novels which included Redemption Falls, The Secret World of An Irish Male and his latest, which he finished here at Baruch College, called Ghosts. Although all great, an  excellent an argument can be made that one of the most poignant times at the reading was Reading Tennyson with Sean where he speaks about the connection between his father and himself. A moment made all the more special because,  as he was reading ,his parents were seated in the audience. One of the other very memorable moments at the reading happened as the event was coming to a close. His final reading of the night was called “Tower” a poem about Baruch, its culture and its surroundings. In the poem which was dedicated to all the students at Baruch he speaks about all the different people he sees and all the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The poem was comical and yet at the same time gripping as he describes how he witnessed the tragedy of September 11th 2001 from his room at the north corner in the Journalism department. As he closes the poem, which was musical at many points, it sounds like a hip-hop record. At the end of the poem he repeats the word “tower” approximately eight times. He said that when it is published he wants the words to create a tower, As the reading came to a close the room gave him great applause.

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Don’t blink

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Richard Ortega

There is nothing more aggravating and frustrating than being stuck at a red light when seconds make the difference between you being on time and you being late.  Sure the average red light only lasts between 30 seconds to a minute there are some that last longer.  There is one red light on the corner of John F. Kennedy Blvd in Jersey City that lasts exactly two minutes.  Not only does it take long to turn green but when it does, it takes 3o seconds to change back to red.  How anyone hasn’t bothered to complain or suggest there be an additional 3o seconds added to the time it takes to change back to red is confusing.

I’m sure I’m not the only person on the morning bus awake enough to notice that this is going on.  Isn’t anyone else annoyed by the fact of having to add additional unnecessary time to their morning commute?

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Spanish Bodega Open All Day and Night

Posted on October 25, 2009 by mmicko

In the middle of 97th and 98th on Lexington Avenue, Judy’s Restaurant, remains open serving breakfast, lunch and late night dinner.

In harsh economic times, it is rare to see restaurants open late, but this small bodega is known for staying open as late as 3am. “Sometimes people come in for beers in the late night,” says Fabio Deleo, restaurant owner.

The small restaurant has a few tables for sit down, as well as stools by the kitchen bar. The kitchen is open from 7am to around 9pm, but people are known for getting food way past then. A lot of people also call in for take out or take advantage of the free delivery offer.

Judy’s restaurant makes different meals daily. “The most popular things customers order are steak, fish, and of course- Dominican rice and beans,” says Fabio. The average lunch meal costs anywhere from $3 to $7. As for dinner, the price ranges from $7 to $10. The portions are large and filling. At this bodega, one get their moneys worth, which is a good deal during these harsh economic times.

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Does Anyone Need a Free Clinic?… I Know I Do

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Queen

In 2007 a survey released by the Census Bureau stated that approximately 45.7 million people in the United States did not have health insurance. It does not make me happy to say that I am one of those 45.7 million, but I am.  On October 7th, 2009 anchor Keith Olbermann, host of Countdown on MSNBC, gave a special comment about the health care debate. Listening as he spoke I heard some grim statistics. In his special comment he stated that at least 122 people die every night because they do not have health insurance. He also stated that a study conducted by Harvard University and the Cambridge Health Alliance indicated that 45,000 people die each year because they do not have health insurance.

On the October 7th, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report hosted by comedian Stephen Colbert one of his opening jokes was “Time heals all wounds, so if your uninsured get a watch”. At first when I heard this joke I laughed because I thought it was funny. However, figuratively speaking I do that almost every time I get sick. I just wait it out and hope that I get better. The sad truth is many people who are not insured do the same thing and hope for the best.

The scary part is that some of these common colds and headaches turn out to be much worse. What is going to happen if someone finds out that the headache they thought they had turns out to be a brain tumor?, but because they are uninsured they cannot affored the operation that can save their lives. This will leave them with two choices: either to sell thier house or something else considered valuable and try to pay for the operation or do not have the operation and wait to die. Which one would you choose? None of them seem like really good choices.

While thinking about this a short report came on my television about this organization called The National Association of Free Clinics. On their web page they have a link that will show you the clinics that offer free services in your state. The organization also hosts free health clinic fairs where all a person has to do is show up. They also have updates on legislation about the issue of health care. The NAFC is a nonprofit organization which relies on donations and the volunteering doctors.  I believe that this is a great idea and more organizations like this should be available. I think it is sad that more people do not know about the NAFC.

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First art festival arrives in Douglaston

Posted on October 20, 2009 by ying

On Sunday, local artists, craftsmen, and performers plan to showcase and sell their various talents at the Douglaston Village Arts Festival. The  festival, which will be held by the Long Island Railroad stop, will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  At the festival, as many as 40 artists, including painters, jewelers, and cake decorators, will display their neglected talents before the public. Also present at the festival will be local food vendors and face painters for children who attend.

For my article, I will not be focusing on the art festival itself– rather, I will be writing my article on some artists who are there. I will interview them to find out how they got there, what other jobs they have to support themselves, how difficult it is to be artists in small suburban Douglaston, and whether they need to pay money to exhibit their work there.

This story could be in the Arts section of the New York Times.

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Parking haven for idle ambulance drivers

Posted on October 17, 2009 by afong

Jewel Avenue and 73rd Avenue in Queens meet at a dead end at Utopia playground. There, UPS trucks, Fedex trucks, and ambulances line the street, their drivers asleep at the wheel.

In the mornings, the truck drivers meet there for their morning coffee before they drive off on their rounds. Often, ambulance drivers simply sit in their cars, as if waiting for emergencies.

I want to find out whether these ambulance drivers are paid by the hour, and who pays them. Is it a private hospital or a non-profit organization? Their idling perhaps can be a small example of how our health care system is inefficient. I’ve heard of ambulance rides costing upwards of $300. What accounts for such high costs?

I will interview some of the residents in the surrounding homes, and ask them whether they’ve noticed a pattern in the idling of trucks on their street. I will find out from where these ambulances dispatch, whether they are the same drivers, and whether there is a time of the day when they are more likely to be idling in the space (perhaps in the middle of the day, when less accidents occur?). I will call the hospital and ask them whether their ambulance drivers are required to make rounds in specific neighborhoods, and how they can be sure that their drivers are actually on the job.

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Construction Amidst a Slippery Economy

Posted on October 15, 2009 by tabdrakhmanova1

A year has passed since our country entered what many are calling the “Great Recession”. Banks are failing, and unemployment is at record highs, yet from walking down many streets in New York City, people can’t easily make that distinction. For example, just this summer, there were at least five construction jobs on the 136th St and 71st Rd, a block in my neighborhood, alone. This seems odd, because if construction is a telltale sign of a revival in the economy, than why is it occurring now?

For this article I would see if there is a negative correlation between construction and the economy. For example, maybe the reason that so many people were renovating is because they can’t afford to moveto larger properties and they opted for expansion instead. I would gather quotes from some of my neighbors to cover this trend. I also know that there is an elderly couple that chose to extend an outdoor patio, instead of investing in a retirement option in Florida because of the price gap. I would also like to record if residents think that these decisions are wise for the future, or they are just making hard choices because of hard times.

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For Some JC Businesses, Shops Prepare For Weather Change

Posted on October 11, 2009 by Dave Feldman

There are many things that signal the coming of winter: dead flowers, naked trees, holiday shopping commercials. But my first sign of the approaching cold season came to me after I went into my local ice cream shop, Torico, for a passion fruit slushee.

After speaking with the proprietor, Pura Berrios, about how business was holding up, I learned that she was getting ready for her annual three month hibernation period. Starting November 25th, Torico’s will be closed until the end of October. Berrios, who has been in business for over 40 years, says that “business drops 20 percent for every ten degrees,” and that the reverse was also true during the summer season.

After a brief experimentation period of selling hot dogs, pretzels, pop corn and other hot food items, Berrios realized that “people think of us as ice cream shop,” and that “differentiation doesn’t work.”

I started to wonder about all the other businesses in the area that might be affected by the weather. In my neighborhood there is a bicycle shop, a skateboard store and a very popular Mexican food cart outside of Jersey City. I would like to investigate how the oncoming colder weather affects these businesses, if at all. In addition, I might  interview the owners of the local hair salon or the vintage consignment shops to see how the colder weather/holidays influence a customer’s decision in style.

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A Man and His Cart

Posted on October 7, 2009 by rhonorv

Like many Long Islanders who work and study in the city, one of my daily commuter rituals is grabbing a cup of coffee before embarking on my long train ride into Manhattan. Ever since I can remember, at my LIRR station in Wantagh there has been a large silver coffee cart parked faithfully by the escalator each morning. So yesterday when I was on line and saw a petition on the counter next to the change box (where Dennis, the coffee cart owner, trusts customers to take their own change), I asked what it was about.

Dennis told me that the MTA had sent him a letter evicting him from the spot, and he was trying to gather names so he could make a case for staying. I had to run upstairs to make the train right after I signed, but this morning I went back early to interview him. He told me that he had been told to fix up the 29 year old cart after an anonymous complaint, which he suspects came from the owners of the newstand that shares the station with him. After doing so, he received another letter informing him that he was being ‘terminated from the spot’ by the MTA, and had 2 weeks to leave the spot he had occupied for 24 years. The Islip native is unsure of where he would go in that event (though a neighboring parking lot is a possibility), but he has signs posted all over the cart stating “Support the coffee truck! Please sign the petition to keep Dennis and the coffee truck here at Wantagh Station!”

My story would focus on this petition (which Dennis estimates has already been signed by about 200 people) and fight to keep his spot. He also mentioned that the MTA has been “doing this to other carts”- he said another coffee truck owner in Port Washington had already been evicted and the one at the Bellmore station was “in trouble.”

I am going to interview a few customers about their views. When I asked the woman at the counter of the newstand if she had an opinion on the situation, she said she didn’t know much about it, and that it was between Dennis and the owner if anyone. I also e-mailed Kevin Davitt, the Director of Corporate Communications for the LIRR.

Posted in bernstein-fall 2009, Not New York | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Books of the Revolution…And then Some

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Sabrina Smith

This, I repeat, this is not your typical bookstore.

The Revolution is here, but there are no protests on 14th Street or any demonstrations in The Village. Instead, the local activism has hit the four corners of a unique bookstore, located on 26th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. Revolutionary Books/Libros Revolucion is more than what you bargained for. When you enter the doors of the store, your reading experience stretches far beyond the concept of simply purchasing a novel. Inside the “revolutionary ferment” one immediately sees pop-up visual aids all pertaining to one goal, to see capitalism/imperialism at a standstill and see the future of socialism and communism that will “lead to a far better world.”

According to Revolution Books website, Revolution Books is contributing new spirit and atmosphere of critical engagement, putting revolution back into larger societal conversation.

I had the opportunity to visit this bookstore for my Black Economic Development class, and the experience was phenomenal. Never before, have I gone to any location, much less a bookstore, and found people who dedicate their time to see “the revolution come.” I made it my mission to contact the bookstore in an effort to write a piece on their initiative and their exclusive motives for future political development. However, the manager still has not responded. Why does has Revolutionary Books not responded? Have they been in turmoil with the media before? Why do they have to hide?

I am not yet done looking into Revolution Books.

This profile piece can be found in the “Talk of the Town” section of the New Yorker. However, if I were able to get an expose on the bookstore, it can be found published in the Political Scene blog of the New Yorker.

revolutionbooknyc.org

revolutionbooknyc.org

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Lock Your Doors…and Get an Extra Lock While You’re At It

Posted on October 6, 2009 by mpozin

The relatively peaceful and certainly serene Van Cortlandt Village is officially on high alert. Last week, on an otherwise normal day, unsuspecting residents of the community left their apartments only to read the dire announcement in their respective lobby postings. One resident was the victim of a burglary. Amongst the prized possessions were autographed baseballs, a rather lucrative hobby on part of the unfortunate victim, Arty (name changed to protect identity).

This ghastly tide of events, however, does not end here. This evening, another posting was pinned up–another burglary had taken place only one block over. Members of the community are still coming to grips.

The harbringer of unpleasantries, more commonly known as the postings board.

Both burglaries occurred during daytime. The residents were not home at the time, but there were no signs of forced entry. Fingerprint matches thus far have not produced any results.

B. Gmuer, Arty’s neighbor, said, “I just hope this doesn’t turn into the mess we had a few years ago, a string of burglaries followed by a frightened community.”

Another neighbor requested to remain anonymous, but made clear that he believed that this is not your average robbery, “I’ve known the guy for decades, and even I don’t know his erratic schedule. How did they manage to figure it out?”

A security guard also expressed his suspicions, “They couldn’t just sneak out a trumpet, a $3,000 computer station, a TV, and all that other crap. Not in broad daylight.”

The 50th Precinct has been notified and is investigating; undercover vehicles noticeably increased their presence. Meanwhile, the community’s Security and Civilian Patrols are working overtime.

Stay tuned…

Can be found in Daily News Crime section, Latest Crime News section in NY Post.

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In America, Communist Fears Live On

Posted on October 6, 2009 by mlipsius
I was standing on a crowded subway during the early morning rush, silently reading through the morning prayers. An old man got on the train. He made his way toward me, but then held on to a nearby pole for support and took out his Russian translated John Grisham novel. The train plowed on. I loosened my grip on the pole and the train became a bit more violent. I stumbled, reached for the pole again, and as I did, the man stepped forward to help me. He turned to me, now that we were close enough to speak in confidence, and said to me almost conspiratorially, “Happy New Year.” I responded in kind.

This interchange led me to wonder: Do first generation Jewish Russian immigrants in America still live with communist/totalitarian fears?  

The man’s approach had been quite indirect, almost as if he were casually sneaking the greeting my way for fear of being suspected, the way one might imagine interactions between Russian Jews under a communist regime.

 “The fear of ‘return to mass oppression’ has very interesting dynamics… The immigrants…express this fear in significantly higher level than Russians in Russia (39 percent) [possibly a result of] the old, ‘inert’ fear inherited in immigrants’ consciousness from all-Soviet fears of totalitarian regime” (Shlapentokh and Shiraev, 113).

To pursue this investigation, I would interview, casually converse with or interact with other first generation Russian Jewish immigrants. I would also seek the opinion of an authority on this matter, if possible through an interview with Vladimir Shlapentokh or Eric Shiraev, authors of Fears in Post-Communist Societies: a Comparative Perspective

(http://books.google.com/books?id=A-sDPgSq_6cC&dq=Shlapentokh+and+Shiraev&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=QTWtHh-pWj&sig=2ceRprbdmXwmb-h-mBtPztWbsS8&hl=en&ei=gsrKSvEsisiUB8S6qZID&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false).

 
communist symbol in place of stars on American flag, http://www.strangecultureblog.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

communist symbol in place of stars on American flag, http://www.strangecultureblog.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

(http://www.strangecultureblog.com/2008_09_01_archive.html. This is a link to the source for the image of the American flag embelished with the communist symbol.  Above is a link to the book referred to and quoted, by Vladimir Shlapentokh and Eric Shiraev.)

After some investigation:

Brighton Beach boasts a strong Russian community.  Most of the residents have moved from the former USSR to the US in the last twenty years.  They tend to express strong sentiments of Russian community, a certain nationalistic pride, even though they will admit that the situation is better in America. 

Even as they live in America, they interact on a “Russian” level.  Dmitri, a salesman at T-Mobile in Brighton Beach, said that “the customers seem to believe they still live in Russia.”

Part of this Russian identification motivates a persisting fear of communism. 

Sunday is the day that vendors set up shop in Brighton Beach.  One Sunday, I engaged Valentina in conversation, and she disclosed to me her opinion regarding communism and America.   Valentina, a street vendor, sells wares ranging from costume jewelry to hats and scarves.  She told me, “alot of communists in america in big scale, more than was in russia.”

This sentiment was reiterated by many others who had lived in the USSR, experienced communism first hand, and could recall it.  The next generation, those who immigrated to the US at a younger age, and had no, or at least few, vivid recollections of communism, seemed to have more liberal, tolerant and confident attitudes.  They live with family members with communist fears, but they themselves seem not to be bothered by it.

Posted in bernstein-fall 2009, Under the Radar: Feature Stories | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Give Me More Food

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Angel Rosario

            I enjoy fast food, I do not want to bad-mouth it. But, there does not need to be multiple fast food places and general places to eat at every street corner. In the area around 170th street and Jerome Ave. in the Bronx, like many places in the Bronx and throughout New York, there are too many fast food places in a small area.

            They closed one of those places that sell fruits and vegetables and right next to it, they just opened up a new Kennedy Fried Chicken about a month or two ago, even though there is one about three short blocks away and multiple places to eat within the same block.

            Within that small section, there is a Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, 2 Kennedy Fried Chicken places, a few delis, a pizza shop or two, about two bakeries, and a Chinese food place. I think I got them all… Oh yeah, there are also about three restaurants and multiple corner stores. Unfortunately, over the summer another restaurant that was there burned down, so that cuts down on the list for now. And if you can walk one more block either way, there are even more places to add to the list.

            I’m not complaining because it gives me choices to eat, but for people that can’t control themselves, it’s not hard to eat until you are fat and unhealthy.

            I would put this story in the Bronx section of the Daily News, maybe in the ‘Eats’ section, but I don’t think this story would be important enough to be there. The best place a story like this would fit into is as a blog post.

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Black Hole for Business?

Posted on October 5, 2009 by rhonorv

On a stretch of Merrick Road in the Mandalay area of Wantagh, there is a small strip of stores. Ever since I can remember, two of the storefronts have been in nearly constant flux- at different times they have been an antique shop and an aquarium, a yoga studio and a music lesson center, a real estate office and a pizza joint. The others on the block are fairly stable, however: the standard mani-pedi place, the convenience store, the lawnmower store, the deli, the bagel place, the dry cleaners, the bar and the cell phone store ironically called ‘Beeper Doctor'(they really do need to remove that from the sign) have lasted through the rotation of neighbors at the end of the block.

Perhaps it has something to do with the location. The two storefronts in question are on the corner, at the edge of a residential neighborhood. There is no parking lot close to either place (though this doesn’t seem to affect the other shops’ livelihood). Interestingly enough, the yoga studio that now occupies a small storefront down the block a bit was originally in the corner space, but moved down soon after it opened. It seems to do business and is surviving well enough, but why the move? Is it just a bad luck space, or is there some other explanation for the constant and consistent changes in occupants?

I’d like to talk to some of the store owners in the area about the reasons for the quick opening and shuttering of the unlucky stores, and some residents about conceptions of the types of businesses that have opened in the spaces.

2

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Start… Your… Engines!

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Richard Ortega

The traffic light has just turned red.  You see two buses waiting, side by side, revving their engines.  You think to yourself, “it’s my lucky day.  No waiting for the bus.  Today I have options.” Then with the blink of an eye red turns to green and both bus drivers push the pedal to the metal in a race to see who’s going to get the privilege of picking you up. Three seconds later you find yourself staring at the back of both buses wondering what just happened?

This is no out of the ordinary, random once in a blue moon moment.  This is the daily scene on John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, NJ.  Jersey City commuters are serviced by several bus companies.  There’s the official NJ Transit bus line, the unofficial “minibuses” or “dollar buses”, and then there’s the “random bus” line.

NJ Transit buses run on a schedule, maintain a safe driving speed while passing by, and are the much more expensive transportation option.  John F. Kennedy turns into the Indy 500 once a “dollar bus” and a “random bus” meet at a red light.  Drivers of each bus go from 0-60 in what seems like two seconds in the name of picking up riders and increasing their profits.

The “dollar bus” gained its nickname back when they first appeared on the streets of Jersey City.  Charging riders $1 for local stops, Jersey City residents quickly dubbed the new buses “dollar buses.”  The “random bus” is just that, a random bus.  You’ll never see the same random bus on a regular basis and a random bus is the worst looking bus you can ride.  It’s seats are dirty, the windows are locked shut and the driver always looks disturbingly nervous while driving.

Their is a dirty competition going on between these two bus companies.  Many times both buses will drive by bus stops that don’t have enough passengers waiting for a bus.  Other times the bus drivers that do pick you up make you feel like your on a roller coaster ride with the constant speeding and stopping.  Commuters are constantly being driven by for no reason, once on the bus they have to hold on to dear life because the drivers hit the gas before they have a chance to even look for a seat.  The morning commute is hard enough without having to stand at a bus and wonder, “are there enough passengers at this stop?”

Capitalism has taught us that competition is a good thing, it’s supposed to be beneficial for consumers because it gives us options.  In this case capitalism has failed us.  The competition between the two smaller bus companies has led to reckless driving and unsafe commutes.

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Rise of new Asian supermarkets in white suburbia

Posted on September 29, 2009 by ying

In recent years, two Asian supermarkets have sprung up in the predominantly white neighborhood of Little Neck to satisfy the needs of the rising Asian population. Previously,  Koreans and Chinese, who make up the majority of Little Neck’s Asian population, had no choice but to travel to Flushing, the epicenter of Asian culture within Queens, to shop for products not found in American supermarkets. Today, New York Mart, the Chinese supermarket located along Marathon Pkwy and Horace Harding, along with its Korean counterpart, H-mart, bring convenience and a taste of the Asian cuisine for all of the suburban residents.

But the question now is– are they really satisfying the needs of their target customers? Kay Lee, the manager of New York Mart, said, “H-mart is not our competition- we offer quality products at cheaper prices.” True, the price of a pound of potatoes is cheaper at the Chinese supermarket than at the Korean supermarket, but are inexpensive products all that customers care for? For Kai Wang, a Chinese American who has been a resident of Little Neck for twenty years, and other Asian customers, quality is more important than price. Wang said, “I was happy when it first opened, but I was disappointed immediately. The first thing I bought, a carton of milk, was spoiled right when I opened it.” She has, since then, resumed her tiresome commute to Flushing for her Chinese groceries.

At H-mart, they have taken a rather different approach. Acknowledging the fact that they are still situated in a mostly white neighborhood, they use tours during certain days of the week and during the weekend to give residents a taste of different Korean delicacies and ultimately, to lure them in as regular customers. Successful? Very. In fact, even Chinese residents of Little Neck visit the supermarket frequently. New York Mart, while still ignorant of the woes of its Asian population, must address this pressing issue for it to stay afloat. H-mart employee, Thomas Lee, said, “New York Mart isn’t our competition.”

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Oh Come all ye Faithfull

Posted on September 29, 2009 by James Mughal

IMG_0783

My story is about Liverpool supporters club New York. Liverpool supporters club New York was formed in 1995 by passionate expatriate Scouse and Irish reds. “There were 20 hardcore fans at the beginning and it went from strength to strength as popularity of both Liverpool and game of soccer became more and more widely known.” said Professor Simon Davis. 11 Street Bar in East Village is the current home of Liverpool supporters club New York. Supporters of reds gather at 11 street bar on match days to support their team with other reds. Davis said, “I think it gives them sense of geographic community togetherness. They are not set around their living room merely watching television.” They sing their chants/songs while watching the match. Fields of Anfield Road, His armband proved… and When the reds go marching on are current favorite of Liverpool supporters at 11 Street Bar.

IMG_0771

Liverpool supporters club have tried to have a positive impact on the community. They raised more than $4,000 for Downtown United Soccer Club to provide Football playing opportunities for underprivileged kids. They also ran two food drives for a mission near 11 Street Bar. Liverpool supporters club will be working with Downtown United Soccer Club this fall to raise money to support kids playing soccer in the New York area. They will be playing in Downtown United Soccer Club charity tournament on October 10, 2009 at pier 40.

This story would be found in the sports section of NY Post or Daily News.

Disclaimer: I am supporter of Liverpool Football Club and member of Liverpool supporters club New York.

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Election posters: minimal effect

Posted on September 28, 2009 by afong
Campaign poster

Campaign poster

Outdated campaign poster

Outdated campaign poster

With Election Day drawing closer and the primary elections under way, candidates running for public office are trying to get their names out to the    public. In Fresh Meadows, Queens, storefronts are plastered with candidate’s posters that urge constituents to vote on September 15th. Some storefronts even have posters of opposing candidates running for the same office. It would be interesting to see whether the store owners actually advocate the candidates on the posters that they paste on their shop windows. After speaking with the owner of a deli, I learned that canvassers for the different candidates asked the store owner for permission to paste the poster, then pasted it of their own accord.

It would be interesting to see whether advocating for a candidate can actually benefit the business, and whether the prevalence of a candidate’s posters made a difference as to the distribution of votes in the area. The store owners’ passivity about the  election raises doubts about the usefulness of the money spent on campaign materials. We can ask customers whether seeing these posters in their stores will alter their voting patterns.

The election results for the primary can be found here: http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/results.html.

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Home away from home

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Richard Ortega

John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, NJ is home to many businesses.  One in particular is, El Rincon Nuestro.  This business stands out not because of the blue white blue awning that shadows its customers, but because of its unique array of products.  El Rincon Nuestro has the finest products delivered straight from Honduras.

Hundurian candy, Hundurain cheese, and Hundurian pastry are amongst the many things you’ll find at this family owned business.  Breakfast is served as early as 6 am.  A plate of Hundurian cheese and refried beans or eggs and Hundurian cream cheese are always available to order.  Neighbors stop in all through out the day to buy hard to find candy or to indulge in freshly made pastries with a hard to resist flavor.  In the midst of a lot of 99 Cent stores, McDonalds and your everyday corner store, El Rincon Nuestro is a refreshing breath of fresh air.  It serves as both a memory of home for those who are familiar with the Hundurian culture and as an exciting new experience for those who are not.

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Factory Posing as Lofts Issued Vacate Order

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Simona
The website of The Sweater Factory Lofts at 239 Banker Street in Brooklyn claims the building offers unique spaces for unique individuals…at least it did until the building was issued a vacate order by the Department of Buildings, forcing tenants of this illegal residential space to leave and shutting down the website as well.

The DOB website has not only records of active violations at this building dating as far back as 1997, but it also states that part of the violations include illegal conversion of industrial space. Recent violations include general safety issues (i.e. boiler, elevator, construction) as well as consistently ignored stop-work orders. Given that these orders are generally posted on the construction site and are illegal to remove, how do these places even have tenants in the first place? What prompts a developer to advertise this space as livable, knowing full well that it’s hazardous and something that he not only could be, but already is in trouble for? Maybe we’ve taken this whole “urban living” thing a little too far.

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