Month: September 2020

As a person who has been presented with the opportunity of living in an era where car culture is immense and where MTA is part of New York City culture; I will refer to both being a user for both myself.

I observe NYC to be one of those cities where almost all its residents and tourists ride the subway. It’s almost inevitable. However, while the benefit for subway is meant to be to reduce time to get from one place to another; I feel like MTA hasn’t been able to live up to that expectation for a few years now.

One of its major drawbacks as we were all able to observe this year is how easy it is for something that threatens the masses becomes a battleground for the spread of a virus. The subway becomes a panic room and almost a traumatic experience once people must embark on a subway journey again. However, I feel like, investing in rail can be far more useful for the city. Why? Because although cars allow more control of your path; it has become detrimental the impact they have on the environment. Yes, we are investing onto electric and hybrid cars but due to the heavy presence of cars you can tell the way gas emissions are affecting the environment. They’re on of the major contributions to the smog in a city and pollution. Plus, the fact that driving sometimes can no longer be enjoyable due to traffic. It’s irritating to have to endure the sound of cars beeping at one another and just moving at 2 mph while in the highway because your stuck in traffic.

For good reason, New York throughout its history has been known as a walking city. Even today in the twenty-first century many New Yorkers live well without owning an automobile. Some are even happier without one. All that said, public and private transportation have played a role in the life and fabric of the city now for almost two centuries. Examples include the omnibus, the horsecar, the elevated railway (“The el”), the subway, and of course the automobile itself. In 100-300 words share your thoughts on the benefits and/or hazards of one or more of these modes of transportation. How might a city like New York benefit and/or suffer from their presence? In addition to their obvious advantages what, if any, might be their drawbacks? You do not have to write about all of them. Choose one or more as you wish. You have wide latitude and can answer however you think best.

By observing the picture I’ve come to reflect how different children seemed to appear and behave at the time. They seem still and thought provoked by what they’re mind is indulging at that moment. It’s something very distinct to find a classroom nowadays where children are not losing attention because of something else; even though the children in the photo know there was a cameraman in the room.

 It’s interesting to see the technological advancement we have achieved in a year yet; our method of teaching almost remained the same. However, the appreciation that these children demonstrate while reading is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted since kids find reading boring nowadays compared to their other entertainment components now offered.

Now a major thing that must be acknowledged is the steps forward that society has made bringing unison upon students; whether rich or poor, whether male or female and a larger scale of variety upon student ethnicities.

Also knowing that this picture comes in the midst of the Settlement House Movement makes me think how this could be a photo showcasing how privileged children were the only ones able to afford an education or a photo of the actual movement where leaders in society at the time came to unify a branch of the education system to make the gap between the rich and poor smaller.

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for a good class yesterday afternoon. As we mentioned, here is Discussion Thread #2. We have discussed the power of the visual image a little bit in class. The images of Jacob Riis, among others, helped spur many of the reforms of the Progressive Era. Above we see a photograph taken of Mulberry Street in Little Italy around 1890. It was published in an illustrated history of New York City in 1892.

Among the reforms in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was the so-called Settlement House Movement, about which we will talk more in class in the coming days. The photograph below was taken in the library of the Mulberry Settlement House in October 1920, almost exactly 100 years ago. For Discussion Thread #2 explain in 100-300 words what you see in the image. You have wide latitude and can answer however you like. Perhaps you might focus on the children as a group, one child in particular, one or more of the adults, the room, the furniture, the image itself as a piece of photojournalism, or how and what brought them all here. Or, you might write about something else entirely related to the image that you find striking or meaningful in some way. Focus on what you like and give a thoughtful response.

As I grew up and came to settle down in NYC again, I revisited this place that only brought nostalgia as I got closer to it. I was able to feel the rigid stone sidewalks and finding myself staring at the picturesque uniformity of residences in the neighborhood and even smelling the freshness that spring was cooking up with the beauty of its trees. While all of this was occurring, my mind was just remembering members who played a significant role in the appreciation I had and have for Prospect Park. As a kid who was able to experience this public park by running, family gatherings, sledding and visiting its zoo.

It’s a place that hits different when visiting. Prospect Park plays a significant role in the borough of Brooklyn, it nearly serves as a symbol of pride for us people of Brooklyn. The park is often compared to Central Park despite Central Park’s superior size. There are people who feel like Prospect allows oneself to immerse themselves a little more intimately with nature rather than being exposed to a swarm of people in Manhattan.  

However, it’s astonishing that a park that was created, little more than 150 years ago (1867) still amazes people and is one of the factors for a higher cost of rent around the area of Park Slope.

Good morning, everyone. I hope you had a good Labor Day Weekend. As we discussed last week, here is discussion thread number one. For the full credit of five points submit your response by 11:59 pm Sunday night September 13.

The built environment of New York City is all around us. In 100-300 words tell us of a public building or space in your neighborhood (or in the time you spend within New York City if you live outside the five boroughs) – a school, a library, a park, a housing unit, or something else of your choosing – with which you have had even a passing encounter. Tell us briefly how & when the space came to be, and describe how it impacts your neighborhood and your experiences, good, bad, or indifferent.

You have wide latitude. Chose something that interests you. Please respond directly as a comment to this thread. We look forward to hearing your responses.

(image: Tdorante10, via Wikimedia Commons)

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