Archive for April, 2007 Page 3 of 4

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Would New York be ready for its own “Hurricane Katrina”?

Published
by
obodrunova
on April 16, 2007
in Staten Island and Uncategorized
. 4 Comments

Heavy rain and wind caused major flooding throughout parts of the tri-state area, on Sunday, April 15, 2007. For the most part, warned residents were able to prepare their homes as well as arrange their commute for the intense weather conditions. However, there were plenty of residents who were unable to stay indoors and were forced to get around their communities in the storm.

The concern here is not only large cities, but also small areas such as South Beach, Staten Island. Towns that are constantly deserted during the snow storms, with small blocks not being cleaned for up to a week after the hit; but aside from the size of these areas, there is another factor which makes this weather condition especially dangerous-these towns also happen to be on the water.

The rain storm on Sunday can be looked at as a nightmare for the South Beach community, since most of the homes are located on or by the water. If you were to leave your house Sunday night, you would be in for one very rough ride. One of the main streets in South Beach, was flooded so bad that if you were to open your car door in certain parts, water would actually flow into the car. The fact that it is a small neighborhood, with uneven roads is bad enough, but the waterfront factor in a rain storm made it that much worse.

The Office of Emergency Management advised the public to stay inside and have emergency supply kits on hand while the Red Cross urged the residents to stay tuned to radio and TV reports for more information. But after seeing the neighborhood on Sunday, and all the people stuck or struggling to get around, my question is whether or not that’s the best our city can do?

How safe is it to play on the streets?

Published
by
skwong
on April 16, 2007
in Brooklyn and Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

When the weather get warm, children like to go out and play outside. They usually go out onto the sidewalk to play ball, ride their bikes, and play with neighboring children. But sometimes the playing outside can be dangerous. At anytime the children may run out onto the streets when they are unattended by their parents. So in order to increase the children’s safety of playing outside, much more of these road signs are being put up onto lamp posts for drivers to drive with caution.

How safe is Starbucks?

Published
by
Jessica Baptiste
on April 15, 2007
in Manhattan
. 4 Comments

starbucks-outside.jpg starbucks-inside.jpg

[Sources - starbuckseverywhere.com (left) and beta.plazes.com (right)]

On February 15 while I was interviewing a source for an article in the crowded Starbucks on 41 Union Square West (next to McDonalds; near 17th St), a teenage girl went hysterical when she discovered her missing book bag, after leaving it unattended to go order. A cop arrived and started to jot down a report, as though this was a routine action. He eyed a homeless man close by and started to question him. The homeless man looked either too drunk or drugged to answer. He slowly gathered his belongings and left the coffee shop pushing a shopping cart.

Several seated customers, many surrounded by laptops and blackberries, stared at the unfolding action. One young man in his twenties said that he visits this Starbucks location often and witnesses people getting their belongings stolen all the time. The baristas behind the registers do not seem to be frazzled by the commotion, since none of them stopped by to see what has happened.

According to the most recent 13th Precinct crime statistics for the week of April 2 to April 8, grand larceny was the biggest crime with 29 incidents in this area. One police officer, who asked to be anonymous, believes that pick pocketing especially in this Starbucks is the biggest crime in the Union Square neighborhood. He stated that stolen laptops in the coffee shop occur very often, since it is a popular hangout where one can have access to the internet. Many times, the victims are non-NYC residents, who leave their belongings unattended while they order their coffee, he said. There is also another Starbucks in the area on 10 Union Square East.

Hospice Care Network

Published
by
Sthomas
on April 12, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 1 Comment

The Hospice Care Network is a not-for-profit organization that offers care for terminal patients and families in Suffolk County and Nassau County. The organization focuses on what is best for patients and provides care and comfort for those who are terminally ill. The organization has been up and running since 1988 and continues to expand its services to local communities. The New York Islanders promoted Hospice Care Network at a game and raised $3,000 for programs and services.  My mother works for a health clinic for the local hospital where information is posted weekly to inform the community about what is going on and how they can help those in need. This was one of the organizations that reached out to the local communities near my neighborhood for help with fundraising.

Published
by
Sthomas
on April 12, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Congress of Curious Peoples

Published
by
skenney
on April 12, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 4 Comments

 by pierpaulopasolini, flickr.com

 picture by pierpaulopasolini, flickr.com

The first Congress of Curious Peoples will begin friday April 13 at Coney Island with “superfreak weekend”. Coney Island has a long history of sideshows including sword-swallowers, fire-eaters, tattooed bodies, and bearded ladies. Unknown to many is that there also exists a sideshow school where anyone can learn how to be a sideshow freak or burlesque dancer! The event will take place at the Sideshow by the Seashore at the Coney Island Amusement Park through April 22, ending with an alumni show featuring performers who worked at the sideshow from the mid 1980’s on.

Cricket Fever in the West Indies

Published
by
jreynolds
on April 11, 2007
in Brooklyn and Uncategorized
. 9 Comments

 

 

West Indians entertaining themselves while waiting for cricket. ( picture taken from http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2004-04-26/mainpic2.jpg)

Cricket in the West Indies is more than just a sport to its fans. Their love for the game unites them to look beyond their own nationalities to share one identity-West Indian. West Indians may emigrate far and wide but can easily become enthusiastic whenever cricket is mentioned in conversation, however, infrequent. For those whose interests never dulled, they can now enjoy cricket on a grand scale in their part of the world, since World Cup Cricket is being hosted in the West Indies for the first time from March 10 to April 28, 2007.

“I think it’s great that World Cup Cricket is finally being held in the West Indies,” said Candacia Greeman, 21-year-old college student, “It gives West Indians pride in their cricket culture as well as tourism to the individual countries.”

The World Cup one-day matches will be played in the countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago. Cricket fans from all over the world are expected in the West Indies to support their teams. The average cost of cricket tickets is US$100.

There are 16 participating teams from 5 different continents. These teams that will vie for the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy 2007 are England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Bermuda, Kenya, Scotland and Ireland.

In New York City, a diverse Metropolis, cricket is only popular among die-hard cricket fans. One particular neighborhood in which cricket is an actual topic of conversation is Brownsville, Brooklyn. The percentage of the foreign-born population who is Caribbean and non-Hispanic is 65.6%.

West Indians in the Brownsville area have caught the cricket fever but many have to forego the instant gratification of seeing a live feed of the daily cricket matches. Rather, they have to settle for internet updates on cricket websites or reports from their fortunate friends and families who can afford the cricket packages offered by their satellite or cable providers.

“I enquired from my dish provider about adding on the cricket package,” said Courtney Hinckson, a Brownsville resident, “but $199 with tax was too expensive for me.” The only other provider of cricket packages is Verizon DirecTV which offers a regular package that costs $225 a year and includes live cricket action, but if matches in India are included the cost increases to $319 per year.

Some of the very fortunate were able to fly to their hometowns in the West Indies to view the cricket live. “I want to experience the World Cup Cricket for myself, so I’m flying home to Guyana to see the matches to be played there,” said Royston Jeffrey, Brownsville property owner.

And for the not so lucky who can neither afford to fly to the West Indies nor pay for cricket packages, they must resort to second-hand information or internet updates. Some were depending on websites like youtube.com for the free cricket match uploads; only to be disappointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) who placed a ban on youtube.com from showing any cricket matches.

A Home for the Homeless

Published
by
T Vaughan
on April 6, 2007
in Manhattan and Uncategorized
. 6 Comments

As summer approaches many homeless people will be taking to the parks and street corners in New York City. In the five years I have worked and lived in Chelsea, this has been the pattern. Some of these street side residents are teenagers who have been sexual and physically abused, put out by family members, or are suffering confusion due to their sexual-orientation.

I am grateful to learn from the Chelsea Now, that the Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Project will be opening a brand new 24-hr shelter program in Chelsea for young people living on the streets.

Do You Know Your Neighbors?

Published
by
tjose
on April 6, 2007
in Not New York and Uncategorized
. 10 Comments

Just recently my sister received a notice from the New Rochelle police department notifying her and all other tenants of the sex offenders located around the vicinity. When going through the list, we were shocked to find that one of those listed was one of my sister’s former classmates. I was even more shocked to discover that the person on the top of the list convicted with the most deviant crime was a man who lived literally two doors down from my house. I was outraged. We never received any letter from the police department.

Later, I told my friend and neighbor about the letter to see if she had received one or even heard about the situation. She said that the man had been living there for a year now and that she only found out from one of the residents in the apartment building across the street. I was appalled. I could not believe that the residential homes were never given notification. Many of these homes that have young women and children were never warned of the potential danger around them.

When looking to buy a home many people check to see if the neighborhood is safe especially those who have children. It’s scary to think who lives around you. There are many websites that allow you to search the registered sex offenders in your area. The suburbs are a place where people raise families. They are supposed to be safe, but how safe are they if residents are not notified about potential harm?

“People are always scared to go out into the city fearing that they’re going to be violated in some form, but honestly I’m more afraid to walk the streets of New Rochelle, the town that I grew up in at 9:00pm at night, than in the city at 1:00am wasted as a college kid,” said Teena Kurian New Rochelle resident and Cooper Union Alum.

Help Wanted: Community Board 12

Published
by
Matty V
on April 6, 2007
in Manhattan and Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Picture avaliable at http://www.umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects/fp/images/WashHeights.jpg

The members of Community Board 12 recently met to discuss important information. At the board’s monthly meeting, held on March 27, 2007, they released their list of district needs for the 2008 fiscal year. The list included additional monies for local libraries, community centers, and schools. The following week on March 4, 2007 a meeting was held to brainstorm different uses for the George Washington Bridge Redevelopment Project. The multi-million dollar project is meant to stimulate local businesses and services. Both the list of district needs and the brainstorming process seem to be an attempt from the neighborhoods to thwart the negatives of gentrification. The list of district needs called for additions to affordable housing and the brainstorming process listed possible local recipients of the project’s money. As always both meetings were held open to the public at the familiar Columbia University auditorium. For further information and updates on both communities, visit the Community Board 12 website.

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