In 2005, hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Louisiana. It was one of the worst in the history of the United States. Flooding, property damage, loss of lives and homes are only some of its deadly effects. In the aftermath of broken homes and lives, one photographer witnessed and captured the human tragedy.
Ozier Muhammad, a pulitzer prize winner and a photojournalist for The New York Times, complied 36 photos and 2 PDFs from the Times, which are now on display at the Tremaine Gallery at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. It took Ozier at least 12 dozen visits to New Orleans, which he did immediately after Katrina from September 2005-2006.
In the following visual and audio clip he describes his experience in New Orleans, walking through flooded streets, rubble and the sheer devastation that was all around. Muhammad captures the heart and spirit of the people. Here in this clip are some of his photographs that are on display.
This holiday season, residents of Brooklyn are urged to head down to main street and spend their cash on Brooklyn. This initiative "Shop Brooklyn" is a campaign by borough President Marty Markowitz, which he hopes will bring awareness to all that Brooklyn has at its heart, a unique and thriving culture.
Whether you are looking for toys for the kids, that perfect dress, an awesome tattoo, a book for your in-laws or a great meal, Brooklyn's got the goods.
The campaign reminds all that in Brooklyn you will find great food, culture, thriving shops, personalized services and supports local economic growth. Not only that but walking through your very own neighborhoods certainly keeps you fit, and who wouldn't want to lose a few pounds for the holidays?
So go on, open your doors and of course your wallets, take a walk through Bay Ridge, East Williamsburg and other parts of Brooklyn and see what the hype is all about...
Representative for District 20, John Liu has served on the New York City Council since 2001. Earlier this year he announced that he would be running for New York City Comptroller. Raising more than his competitors, Liu started the race with $3million in his pocket.
Now, he has the city's money in his pockets as the newly elected New York City Comptroller and first Asian American to fill the post.
The comptroller, or as it is more affectionately known as, the city's watch dog, is responsible for keeping an eye on the finances and performance of city agencies among other duties.
Liu certainly has his work cut out for himself for the next four years as comptroller. Here in an interview with Brian Lehrer, he talks about individuals demanding more from public officials and his vision for the future and like President Obama, he calls for change.
Prospect Park, an oasis in the ever changing borough of Brooklyn sits on 585 acres of beautiful landscapes. Filled with bountiful foliage, laughing children, playful dogs and ever lasting memories, Prospect Park is indeed a hallmark of Brooklyn.
Among the many park-goers is Karl Mc Comads-Reichl who is originally from Wisconsin and is a musician. He plays base for jazz and some classical music. Two years ago he moved to Brooklyn at Lefferts Gardens and was married this summer at Prospect Park. He now enjoys many days in the park with his wife and dog Dinah.
Helen Quirk, a first grade teacher has also been visiting the park and for many years and gathered many fond memories of Prospect Park with her son and her 11 year dog. When compared to other parks, none seem to foster that communal feeling quite like Prospect Park, says Quirk.
Karl and Helen are among the many who have made Prospect Park part of
their homes. Whether it is the beautiful trees, lakes, the peaceful
environment, the dog parks, the outdoor music or concerts, Prospect
Park holds a special place in the hearts of all who visit. Lets listen as Karl and Helen share their experiences.
It is 7:AM and you are running late for work or school. You take one last look in the mirror before locking the door and you hurry down the three flights of stairs of your five-floor walk up building. A block and a half away you reach in your pocket to retrieve your iPod or cellphone but it's not there. What do you do?
Like most New Yorkers you walk or even run as fast as your legs can carry you back down the block to your apartment, up the three flights of stairs and into your bedroom and search frantically until you find your beloved iPod or cellphone.
Welcome to the new electronic age of iPods, cellphones, blackberries, mp3 players, laptops as thin as an envelope, PDA's, portable and hand-held games and DVD players. Welcome to a time where we simply cannot live without these portable electronic devices and we can't even remember what we did or how we ever lived without them. Welcome to the 21st century!
The average New Yorker carries with them at least three electronic devices. You see it on the subway or the bus, you use it while walking or even driving and you certainly feel it when your electronic companion is not working well as it should. There are even doctors you can take them to when they are sick. So who needs a temper-mental boyfriend or girlfriend or dog when you can cozy up to your favorite music or movies on your electronic companion. Why teach an old dog new tricks when you can simply upgrade to a new phone or download the latest applications? There at your fingertips is your new best friend.
It is amazing to see how society has progressed over the years. Today, electronics are as vital as wearing clothing, we feel naked and alone without them. Social norms have gone from face to face communication to Facebook. We are not satisfied anymore checking e-mails at home on desk tops, now we take it around with us everywhere we go. At bars or clubs or other social settings they don't only offer food and drinks but wireless internet connections, heaven forbid we actually have to interact with the person next to us. We don't smile anymore we send smiley faces, greeting cards are not hand written they are typed and let's not forget video conference and web camming, which eliminates the need for any human interaction.
While these electronics do make life a lot easier, we can't help but wonder, what is happening to social norms? Has Sony replaced society?
Atlantic Yards, a development project in the hearts of Prospect Heights and Park Slope in Brooklyn, has met tremendous opposition and has been the cause for numerous protest, demonstrations, lawsuits, television and radio coverage.
The project is being developed by Forest City Ratner, with its chief developer, Bruce Ratner. According to him, Atlantic Yards would be the new home of the New Jersey Nets, a basketball team , the Barclays Center, and commercial and residential space. Developers argue that this would bring renewed life to Brooklyn as it ushers in a new era of professional sports. This, they say is much needed and welcomed since it has been more than 50 years since the Dodgers left Brooklyn, taking with them the spirit of sports. Among the supporters of Atlantic Yards is Borough President Marty Markowitz, Mayor Bloomberg and the MTA.
However, many opposing the venture argue that it would only bring loss of jobs, homes, traffic congestion, noise and high rents. Residents in the area stand to lose their town houses, some of which are multi-million dollar homes, not to mention the destruction of rent-stabilized pre-war apartment buildings. Such controversy has brought together many Brooklynites, among them are Reverend Billy, council members Yassky and Letitia James, and many bloggers and local television and radio stations.
With the many obstacles facing the, the only question now remain is, what will the future of Atlantic Yards?
New York City is filled with many colorful characters. Many can be seen on the streets of Manhattan, on the train next to you, on the park bench or even at your local Starbucks. For the month of October, these characters seem to multiply tenfold. There is something about this month, which holds the festival of Halloween that brings out the best, the worst and at times even the scariest in people
All dressed up and with a dare to scare, many take to the streets in celebration of this rather unusual gala. It is that time of year when we see the dead walk; zombies come to life, your favorite cartoon characters marching through the streets along with super heroes, pirates, sailors, witches and ghosts.
However, a closer look might reveal something even more bizarre this year. Walking side by side, on all fours, are miniature size partygoers. More and more dogs join the merriment on All Hallows Eve in their cutest and cuddliest costumes.
In NYC, there are over 250,000 registered dogs and they certainly want to share in the spotlight. No longer content with simply fetching a stick these dogs want to strut their stuff. Their begging days are over now that they are dressed to impressed. There are costume competitions completely for dogs, even entire stores dedicated to dressing your dog in the best barking costume you can find. In fact, many Halloween stores such as Ricky’s and PartyCity have increased the number of dog costumes because of last year’s high demand.
These dogs certainly want to have their bones and eat it too.
Every year thousands of dog owners and dog lovers alike flock to MadisonSquareGarden to witness a spectacular event, the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The judges certainly have their work cut out for themselves, with over 2500 dogs from over 150 breeds; it is truly a site to behold. As the dogs put their best paw forward, they are judged based on appearance, performance and pedigree.
Another cluster of contenders in a different type of show, are the candidates for the 2009 Public Advocate Race in New York City. The public advocate is the city’s problem solver or ombudsman also known as the city’s ‘watchdog’. He or she presides over City Council meetings and act as a supervisory body for city agencies and at times in the past have proved to be quite a forthright check on the Mayor. Sharing in the spotlight in this race is Councilman Eric Gioia, former public advocate Mark Green, Councilman Bill de Blasio, Norman Siegel and Alex Zablocki.
Like the dogs in the Westminster Kennel Dog Show, the candidates in the race for Public Advocate certainly cover many different categories. With the returning ‘champion’, former public advocate Green (who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks), third time running contender, Siegal and a pup among dogs, Zablocki who is only 26 years old ( almost 4 in dog years), this year’s race is nothing short of exciting. These contestants stand to be judged on November 3, 2009.
The Second Avenue Subway has been in the pipeline since the 1920s. Now, the residents and business owners of the Upper East Side are seeing this dream become a reality. How great it would be to have a subway so nearby, especially for the York and East End Avenue inhabitants. Such news would surely put a smile on anyone’s face. Yet, everything comes at a price.
The MTA estimates that this will be a multi-billion dollar project. However, this undertaking comes at a much higher cost than expected. Noise, pollution, traffic congestion and closure of local businesses have all added to the cost of this venture. Since the beginning of Phase One – tunnels from East 105th street to East 63rd street with various stations along the way – local businesses have suffered and no one
seems to be smiling anymore.
Local restaurants, shops, delis and bars have not only had their streets bulldozed but their business has also taken quite a hit. Children no longer run freely through the sidewalks nor are patrons enjoying the comforts of outdoor restaurants. Instead, they encounter a clutter of construction equipment, materials and machinery.A brisk walk is no longer met by the fresh night air, but with thick clouds of dust and debris.
Store-owners have placed signs in their windows as a means of protest as more and more businesses find themselves on the verge of closing.
Born on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago but now living in New York City my journey has been quite interesting. Culture shock hit me at every angle, but I survived. Today, I call NYC my home filled with many more adventures.
Recent Comments