Woodbridge is finding ways to turn garbage into gold–1.8 million dollars to be exact. Mayor John E. McCormac recently announced plans to share services in trash collection and disposal with the Borough of Carteret. This is three year deal in which the Woodbridge Department of Public works will provide 12 sanitation employees and four trash trucks to dispose of Carteret’s trash on Monday and Tuesday. In return, Carteret’s Mayor Daniel J. Reiman will arrange for its public works employees to pick up trash in Woodbridge. This plan will allow the township to increase resources by combining public services. The deal will add 1.8 Million dollars to the Woodbridge treasury and save Carteret taxpayers $300,000. “I don’t see the difference. Garbage gets picked up regardless. But saving 1.8 million dollars. That’s good budgeting,” says Bertram, a Woodbridge resident.
I also did not detect a difference. I leave for school in the mornings around the same time the garbage truck turns the corner onto my block. I did not see anything new, but can also appreciate more money being added to the town. For more info Click Here.
The children come out to play. They ride bikes. They play tag. They bring a sense of vitality to the Woodbridge neighborhood consisting primarily of senior citizens. These children seem to have come out of nowhere, but now that they have arrived it is easy to see that the demographics of my community may be changing. I have noticed an increase in the number of children in the neighborhood. It may be because of the warmer weather. But when I first moved to the neighborhhood there were not many young people. Most of the residents appeared to be retired, with children who most likely had grown up and moved away. Now, on my way home from school, ,I see more young people out on the streets. This suggests that older residents may be moving out and being replaced by younger residents with young children. This of course, pertains to my block only. In any case, Woodbridge has made efforts to provide educational events and recreational activities for its young people with, “Youth Month”. It is a two-month “celebration” consisting of several events including an opportunity for young writers to read their compositions at the Barron Arts center and a Woodbridge Idol talent competition. For more information Click Here
Jackson Heights is such an unusual neighborhood. In the two years I’ve lived in the New York City area, I am sold on the idea that it is the most diverse neighborhood out there. As such, I’ve found myself in some unusual situations. I know where to find a $4 haircut (I won’t be doing that again), a green card, or a social security card. The latest of my unintentional findings is that of “girls for delivery.”
Allow me to explain.
A man approaches me, while I was walking around 71st Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Figuring that I speak Spanish and that as a young latino man I have ‘needs’, he offers me a wink and tells me in almost a whisper “chicas, chicas.” (Girls, Girls) He then proceeds to hand me a card that contains a cell phone number and pictures of topless girls (I sure doubt those are the girls they offer). In the lower left side of the card I can read “Delivery, from 11:00am to 3:00am.”
I couldn’t help wondering how these people can run such a business without getting penalized or without having anyone find out about it. I called and a woman picked up the phone. She asked me where I was calling from and I lied. I asked her to tell me how much it was to get a “delivery.” She was very hesitant in her answer and told me the driver, who would wait outside until the girls are finished with their “date,” would let me know the price. After she asked me for my address for the ‘delivery’, I told her that maybe another day, and freaked, out hung up the phone.
Rafael, a construction worker who moved to Elmhurst last year, assured me that some of those girls may walk out with up to $1000 at the end of the night since most people request them for bachelor parties and similar events. “They brought two out to Long Island one time,” he recalled. “They made crazy money because they entertained a group.”
The economy is at an all time low. The dollar is dweeby and milk costs more by the gallon then gasoline. What’s up? One would think in a desperate time like this people would be scared to open up their wallets let alone open up a business. Not in Greenpoint! New stores are going up left and right, but the most surprising store to open as of late is a Sleepy’s Mattress store.
Why is a Sleepy’s store so surprising you might ask? Well, when times are desperate people usually live with what they got.
“A bed would be nice, but my futon is fine for now,” James Potiez, a Brooklyn resident said peering into the new Sleepys store. “I have bills to pay and other things to buy for the time being, you know,” he smiled.
Potiez asidem there must be people interested or Sleepy’s would not be setting up shop. The most apparent reason for a new bed, (Not including Bed Bugs), is new residents. People move and many times its an excuse to get a new bed. New apartment, new life, new bed…and so on. The opening of Sleepy’s in many ways means that Greenpoint is doing OK, despite the current recession.
The mattress store has a one year finance free plan that will also attract many people who otherwise wouldn’t be splurging on new springs. ( I should have told James about it.) The opening of Sleepy’s in Geenpoint is just one more example that New York is financially separated from the rest of the country.
As commuters walk at a fast pace through the busy station in Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, some can’t help but stop to listen to Alvaro Munoz and his partner deliver the soothing sound produced by their wind instruments. Alvaro belongs to the group Raices (Roots in Spanish) who, through their music from the Andes Mountains, wish to deliver their message of Indian pride.
“The problem nowadays is that people have no identity,” said 24-year-old Alvaro. “We try to educate people with the teachings that our ancestors left us in their music.”
Alvaro makes it very clear that their Andean music is not folklore, but a music genre very much like rock or country. “Folklore talks about legends or myths and that’s not what we’re about. We take contemporary music and make it our own.”
Raices uses wind instruments such as sinkus and quenas. Sinkus are composed of 13 to 15 tubes made out of of sugar canes which are tied horizontally together. Each tube makes a different sound. On the other hand, quenas are kinds of flutes that have six holes and are made from wood.
“Because of construction, there is no Flushing bound local train…” This is an ordinary announcement on the 7 line in Queens. During April, the 7 line had more “service changes” than its original schedule. When one train makes all local stops, there are no local trains working the other way. “This is annoying. I have to go to Willets Pt-Shea Stadium, to transfer to a Manhattan bound local train, and then back to 103rd St, Corona Plaza. It takes me at least 20 more minutes going back and forth,” one of 7 line commuters complains.
The frequent schedule changes on the 7 line are not only a recent problem, but a situation that had made riders frustrated because the condition has gotten worse. The train comes rarely and runs slow when service changes, so it is usually packed. The number of guides at subway stations seems to be reduced; with only service changes notices posted on the walls at station. Riders have to spend double time on their trips, using trains and enduring inconveniences.
Even though, the MTA New York City Transit announced last year that they would be improving services on the subways and buses, no improvement shows on the 7 line. “There is no change, but only fare increases,” says a rider on the 7 line.
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