Summer 2012 Newsletter - LaGuardia Community College - CUNY
Summer 2012 Newsletter - LaGuardia Community College - CUNY Summer 2012 Newsletter - LaGuardia Community College - CUNY
median income of $170, 486 in an online blog titled Census Pinpoints City’s Wealthiest, Poorest Neighborhoods by Arun Venugopal. Similarly, if one were to take the 1, 2 (to Wakefield, east 241 St, where I live,) the D (to East 205 street), the 4 (Mosulu Parkway), or the 5 (to Dyre Ave), going uptown towards the Bronx he or she will find less glamorous and more poverty stricken areas, besides the traditional attractions of the Bronx Zoo and Yankees Stadium. According to an April 2010 report published by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the percent of residents living in poverty was highest in the borough of the Bronx. One can also take the 1 (to South Ferry), 2 (to Wall Street), 4 (to Bowling Green), and 5 (to Bowling Green), in the opposite direction to downtown Manhattan to wealthier areas such as Tribeca and Wall Street, a center of power, wealth, and financial activity. These subway routes allow a passenger to see and experience dramatic change and contrast in the standard of living of many New Yorkers and educate people about how there is a growing economic disparity in many neighborhoods in New York City. Beyond the economic disparities in the city’s neighborhoods one can also find change, contrast and diversity in the ethnicity of New Yorkers and its neighborhoods while traveling in and out the subway system. On any given day in New York City, an individual will normally see a diverse array of people from a variety of different ethic backgrounds stepping into a typical city subway train. For instance, the 7 train is well known for providing transportation to a diverse group of New Yorkers. It travels from Main Street in Flushing, Queens to 42 second Street-Times Square in Manhattan. While traveling on this train, one can observe change, contrast and diversity in the ethnic backgrounds of native New Yorkers., because the 7 train travels along Queens Neighborhoods that have been traditionally settled by immigrants from around the globe. According to New York Times reporter Bille Cohen, who documented different routes of the New York City public transportation system in January 2008, the 7 train line is “ known as the international express because it runs from Queens to Manhattan making stops in neighborhoods that are Chinese, Irish, Italian, Greek, Turkish Romanian, Indian and Mexican, just to name a few”. As a result, on any given stop along the 7 train, one can experience change and diversity in the ethnic backgrounds of Native New Yorkers and their neighborhoods in Queens. Riding a subway train such as the 7 line gives an individual a firsthand educational experience to the fact that Queens is the most diverse county in the United States. Another firsthand experience of change and diversity and contrast in the ethnicity of native New Yorkers and the look of their neighborhoods can be found on the 2 train line traveling from the North Bronx to Wall Street and the financial district in Manhattan along 7th ave. If an individual took the 2 line from the North Bronx at 241st street- Wakefield they would notice that most of the subway passengers are mostly from Hispanic and Caribbean backgrounds. The majority of the ethnic composition of the 2 train line would stay constant from 241 street-Wakefield in the North Bronx to125 street-Harlem in Manhattan; however, once the 2 train reaches 96th street, there is a dramatic population shift in the ethnicity of most subway passengers on the 2 line. At this stop, the 2 train cars become flooded with New Yorkers who are for the most part, Caucasian. Many neighborhoods on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and south of the famous black neighborhood of 125 th Street-Harlem are mostly populated by White New Yorkers. The dramatic population shift in the ethnicity at 96 th street is one of the biggest examples of change and contrast in New York City that can easily be witnessed by anyone riding the subways. Furthermore, riding the 2 train line provides a firsthand learning experience about the city’s native populations because the experience of the ride allows an individual to become more culturally aware of the fact that the Bronx is the only borough in New York City where its white citizens are not a majority of the population. The most striking and prominent examples of change, contrast and diversity in New York City can be seen throughout the city’s geographical and subway landscape. A dramatic example of change in scenery and landscape throughout the city’s subways can occur when a passenger stepping into a train beneath the city streets in Manhattan at one moment to eventually find himself or herself looking at the Brooklyn Bridge while standing in one of the several trains that travels on the Manhattan Bridge, which is adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge. The ride over the Manhattan Bridge, which connects Manhattan to Brooklyn, could be represented by the N, Q, B or D train lines, since they all travel on the Bridge. Many New Yorkers often travel back and forth on the subways on a daily basis without ever realizing that most train stops are underneath the bor- 16
ough of Manhattan while other train stops in the other boroughs are mainly above the ground, which is a great example of change and contrast that can be noticed by observing train stops and their diverse landscapes throughout the city’s subways system. The subways also offer native New Yorkers and tourists several options to explore the diverse geography of the city and what it was to offer. To many, New York City is often thought to be a giant noisy metropolis with many skyscrapers and very few areas for relaxation and recreation. For example, I know a German tourist who had visited the city for several years without ever knowing there were many other parks besides Central Park in Manhattan until I acted as a tour guide to show her that New York City had giant parks in every borough. The city also has several beaches available to tourists and New Yorkers for relaxation and recreation. The subways provide New Yorkers and tourists with the options to travel to Coney Island amusement park and beach in southern Brooklyn, by either taking the Q, N, F, or D train. New Yorkers and tourist also have the option to go the Rockaway Park Beach in the south eastern part of Queens by hopping on the A train to Broad Channel , Queens and then taking a shuttle train to 116 th Street Rockaway Park Queens. Orchard beach in the Bronx is another option for New Yorkers and tourist by taking the 6 train line along the Southeast Bronx. The city’s subways also allow tourist to travel to various parks in the city such as Corona Park in Queens via the 7 train or Prospect Park in Brooklyn by taking the N train or Van Courtland Park in the Bronx by taking the 1 train line. As one can see the subways provide New Yorkers and tourist several gateways to explore change and to be more exposed to the geographical diversity that is all around New York City. If a tourist or an alien from another planet were to ask me what is the best way to experience and learn about New York City, and why New York City is unique from other cities in the world, I would tell them New York City is unique because it is a city that is constantly evolving in many forms from local entertainment to its diverse five boroughs and neighborhoods. Next, I would tell the tourist or alien life form that riding the many diverse routes of the subway system is the best way to experience New York City firsthand and learn about the city because one will be able to see how the city changes in it inhabitants, culture, and environment from one area to the next. Furthermore, if an individual has a natural affinity for observing change, contrast or diversity in people, neighborhoods or the natural landscape of the city, he or she might love traveling in and out the subways. All that is required to see how New York City changes on a daily basis is an observant eye and a metro card. 17
- Page 1 and 2: Veterans Upward Bound, LaGuardia Co
- Page 3 and 4: so I aggressively researched her co
- Page 5 and 6: person and could have been perceive
- Page 7 and 8: The boy scouts taught me how to be
- Page 9 and 10: eak this cycle, by following throug
- Page 11 and 12: sure you look fantastic without a s
- Page 13 and 14: compilation of mental abuse, unjust
- Page 15: were the black shirts given to pool
ough of Manhattan while other train stops in the other boroughs are mainly above the ground,<br />
which is a great example of change and contrast that can be noticed by observing train stops and<br />
their diverse landscapes throughout the city’s subways system.<br />
The subways also offer native New Yorkers and tourists several options to explore the diverse<br />
geography of the city and what it was to offer. To many, New York City is often thought to be a<br />
giant noisy metropolis with many skyscrapers and very few areas for relaxation and recreation.<br />
For example, I know a German tourist who had visited the city for several years without ever<br />
knowing there were many other parks besides Central Park in Manhattan until I acted as a tour<br />
guide to show her that New York City had giant parks in every borough. The city also has several<br />
beaches available to tourists and New Yorkers for relaxation and recreation. The subways<br />
provide New Yorkers and tourists with the options to travel to Coney Island amusement park<br />
and beach in southern Brooklyn, by either taking the Q, N, F, or D train. New Yorkers and tourist<br />
also have the option to go the Rockaway Park Beach in the south eastern part of Queens by<br />
hopping on the A train to Broad Channel , Queens and then taking a shuttle train to 116 th Street<br />
Rockaway Park Queens. Orchard beach in the Bronx is another option for New Yorkers and<br />
tourist by taking the 6 train line along the Southeast Bronx. The city’s subways also allow tourist<br />
to travel to various parks in the city such as Corona Park in Queens via the 7 train or Prospect<br />
Park in Brooklyn by taking the N train or Van Courtland Park in the Bronx by taking the 1 train<br />
line. As one can see the subways provide New Yorkers and tourist several gateways to explore<br />
change and to be more exposed to the geographical diversity that is all around New York City.<br />
If a tourist or an alien from another planet were to ask me what is the best way to experience<br />
and learn about New York City, and why New York City is unique from other cities in the<br />
world, I would tell them New York City is unique because it is a city that is constantly evolving<br />
in many forms from local entertainment to its diverse five boroughs and neighborhoods. Next, I<br />
would tell the tourist or alien life form that riding the many diverse routes of the subway system<br />
is the best way to experience New York City firsthand and learn about the city because one will<br />
be able to see how the city changes in it inhabitants, culture, and environment from one area to<br />
the next. Furthermore, if an individual has a natural affinity for observing change, contrast or<br />
diversity in people, neighborhoods or the natural landscape of the city, he or she might love<br />
traveling in and out the subways. All that is required to see how New York City changes on a<br />
daily basis is an observant eye and a metro card.<br />
17
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