As commuters walk at a fast pace through the busy station in Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, some can’t help to stop and 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 tired horizontally together. Each tube makes a different sound. On the other hand, quenas are kinds of flutes tht 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 has more “service changes” than its original schedule. When one way makes all local stops, there are not local trains working on the other way. “This is annoying. I have to go to Willets Pt-Shea Stadium, to transfer to 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 today’s issue, but what makes riders frustrated is the condition 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; only service changes notice posted on the walls at station. Riders had to spend double time on their trip using trains and endure inconveniences.
Even though, the MTA New York City Transit announced last year that they will improve 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.
With increasing talks about congestion pricing and the plan’s imminent deadline, many differing opinions surround the issue. The mayor’s position has been clear since the beginning - being the mind behind the idea, he is all for it. And anyone following the news knows that Mayor Bloomberg has been pushing for the plan to make it through the state level and enter in competition with other cities to get federal support and funding.Bloomberg is so intent on the plan being accepted, that recently I noticed an ad at a bus stop in my neighborhood. “If we had congestion pricing, your bus would already be here.”Quite blunt, if you ask me. But it also seems like a smart and effective way to reach the people who are most likely to support the plan: the commuters who spend hours each week just waiting for public transportation to get them to their destination. The ad is simple yet clear, and as I looked at the long line of people waiting for the bus I couldn’t help but think that they would all be in favor of Bloomberg’s baby.”Well, put like this, of course, it sounds like a good idea. But who knows if it will really work? We’ve been promised so much by the MTA already, and all we got was increased fares,” said Edith Malrone, who had been waiting for 15 minutes to take a bus home. Another commuter, Lionel Jey, says he supports the plan. “It’s not only gonna get the buses here faster, it’s also going to help with the environment.”On Tuesday, April 8th, the people of New York will wake up and find out whether or not the mayor’s congestion pricing plan made it through a slew of opponents. I can’t wait to see how fast those ads will be taken down should the plan fail to survive.
On the corner of 47th Street, and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, stands a cafe known as Communitea. This low-key, contemporary space, filled with tranquil ambiance has become a home to many locals, and nearby small business owners. However, Communitea is slowly becoming appealing to people all over the city. Communitea is a cafe that clearly distinguishes itself from any other place in the LIC area, with ambient music playing in the background, and the delicious and rather refreshing smell of Chai Lattes. Though Communitea is a small unpretentious cafe in a newly gentrified neighborhood, it has not only been successful in drawing locals, but even appealing to big time sitcoms like CW’s Gossip Girl. Employees at the cafe claim that the show has even helped quite a bit in promoting the cafe. “People come in and they are like, this is the same spot, oh that’s so cool,” says Michael Richter, an employee at Communitea. “And I believe in the episode someone was drinking tea, and that’s an important thing, because though we serve other things, we were initially a Tea House,” he says. The sitcom is filming their next episode at the cafe this Thursday, March 27th, 2008.
by Simon Caller (flickr.com)
One of the reasons I find Jackson Heights fascinating is because of its diversity. However, what really draws me to look into this area is soccer. For me soccer is not a sport, it’s a passion that I live fervently everyday. When I walk around Jackson Heights, I find myself visiting dozens of stores offering my favorite team jerseys, all kinds of soccer balls, and different videos from past tournaments.
Unfortunately, the ugly side of soccer has also reached Jackson Heights; mainly in “El Abuelo Gozon” bar, where soccer aficionados get together for some soccer, some beer, and some trouble.
Soccer hooligans have been terrorizing stadiums for many years, and the fights carry on at this bar to the extend of having police constantly around the site on Sundays, when most of the games are played. Javier, a soccer fan who didn’t want to give his last name because he has fought in different occasions just outside of “El Abuelo Gozon,” recalled being ambushed by supporters from other teams because he was wearing a soccer jersey from the Colombian side “Millonarios.”
“My girlfriend and I were attacked by five guys at least,” he said. “I wasn’t hurt badly so I went back the next week with friends, but nothing happened.”
The manager of the establishment has been unavailable when I have visited. I imagine he is probably busy preparing the place for the upcoming international game featuring Colombia against Honduras. Hopefully there won’t be any trouble once the final whistle blows.
There will be no more harsh waiting on a windy and rainy night. Starting last year, the City’s Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) constructed elaborate, glass bus stop shelters in Flushing, New York. They were originally completed on the major roads such as Northern boulevard and Whitestone expressway. Now, they are reaching local areas in northern Flushing. “We will replace every bus shelter and install an additional two hundred by 2011,” announced on the official site. They will be working with community leaders to identify the best locations for the additional two hundred shelters. The locations will be selected to ensure that the shelters serve more bus-commuters and the public. D.O.T. is also panning to add more features to the shelters; not only seating, but new technologies like Bluetooth, L.C.D. screens and real-time bus arrival information. “It looks much nicer. The bus will not just pass by this stop especially late at night,” says a pedestrian at the bus stop, pictured above. It is located at the corner of Linden Place and 32nd Ave, where Q25, Q34 and Qx1, three buses are supposed to stop. “Even though it does not change my waiting time for the bus, I appreciate that the city started to do something for this neighborhood.”
I walked on Austin Street in Forest Hills this weekend when I saw a large white board in the window of A&J Pizza. Written in colorful markers on the board was the clear message that: “A&J is not leaving. We are here to stay!”
This cozy pizzeria that is always busy and has a live Italian singer every Sunday night is known around the neighborhood as having some of the best pizza in Queens (the online reviews certainly present it as being the greatest). So I was obviously intrigued by this sign and chose to inquire. I spoke to Ernesto, who works there, and when I asked about the sign he got slightly flustered. “Someone started a rumor that we were closing, but we’re really not,” he said a bit angrily.
I asked a few more questions, but all I got from him was that they didn’t know the identity of the person who started the rumor. “If we knew, we’d crush him.” Simple enough.
There is still more I want to know about this pizzeria that will, on March 26, mark its 25th anniversary. Ernesto told me to call or stop by Thursday and speak to the owner, so we’ll see what he has to say about this!
The federal prison is owned and controlled by the GEO group Inc., a privately run correctional and detention management company. GEO is one of the largest for-profit prison corporations in the world. According to an online source, Geo represents 63 facilities worldwide including United States and United Kingdom; their profits rely on rising crime rates, tough sentencing and immigration policies. Now, they have invaded Springfield Garden with no intention of leaving.www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/orfp97.htm
“I did not know that there was a jail on 150th Avenue,” said Kathleen Richars, a resident of Springfield Garden who has lived there for the past 15 years. “Oh my God, a prison! This is unbelievable.” With plans in motion for extending the facility, residents are more determine to put a stop to this madness. When asked about his perspective on the prison Councilman James Sander said, “Heaven forbid what can happen under these conditions. They can break out and take the buses.” www.federalprison.com
The residents of Springfield Garden continue to protest regarding the federal prison in their neighborhood. Councilman James Sander, encourages the residents to rally and march around the windowless prison. The building was owned by the Wackenhut Immigration Detention center in 1995, which housed illegal immigrants arrested at JFK airport. However, the federal prison acquires prisoners that are waiting to go on trial. The residents are worried about their safety. www.bop.gov
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